Treasure

July 16, 2008 at 6:55 pm · Filed under Christian living, Jesus Christ, New Testament ·Tagged ,

Devotional

Treasure 

 70 years ago Violet Baily and her fiancee, Sam Booth, were walking in the country. They had an argument and Violet took her engagement ring and threw it away. They soon made up their row but could they find the ring? They looked everywhere and eventually they had to buy another engagement ring. They got married and had 55 years of happy life together before Sam died, 15 years ago.

 Recently Violet (age 88 ) got her engagement ring back! Her grandson Leighton got a metal detector and looked in the field where it had been lost 55 years previously. After a short search he found the ring – just a few inches below the soil. It was still sparkling – all Leighton had to do was to wipe it over and hand it back to his Nan. She was overcome with emotion as she put it on her finger.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46)
Violet had been able to live for 55 years without her original engagement ring. The love that she and Sam shared was more important than the ring. But in these two stories, which Jesus told, a man found treasure in a field and sold everything to be able to own it. Another man, a merchant, saw a pearl for sale and sold everything to buy it. That’s what God’s kingdom is like – it is more important than everything else.
 
How important is God to us? Which do we put first in life – knowing God or enjoying all the pleasures and good things of this life?

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18 ) 

When Jesus came along, those first disciples left everything to follow him. It was hard work being a fisherman but they gave it up for a life of greater hardship. As followers of Jesus they were to wander around with nowhere to lay their heads. Sometimes they were opposed, later they experienced prison and persecution and eventually martyrdom ( in the case of Peter). But it was all worth it – not just for the reward of heaven, but even for the life of following Jesus. It was well worth the exchange. As disciples of Jesus they were to learn about the love of God and experience his power. They were to find a life that was really worth living. When Jesus called them to follow him it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. No one like Jesus was ever going to come along again.

And we can say the same thing. In a world where people are looking for wealth and fame and pleasure – and so many end up on the scrapheap, lives ruined by drugs and alcohol – in a world like that the Christian life is the only authentic one. The follower of Jesus is one who really knows what life is about and who finds real purpose in life.