Find Any Treasure

Find Any Treasure

November 8, 2000

Text: Matt. 13:44

Mel Fisher recently died. This was a man who took treasure hunting to new heights of science. He was a man who used satellite image, photographs, sonar, and under water photography. He had a team of men and many times they would research old ship’s logs and study the current and the reefs under the sea years before they ever went on location. He filled museums with rich treasures. He’s taken photo’s with him in gold chains around his neck, all manner of artifacts, idols and gold bullion and bars; the value of it is beyond description.

Yet, the truth tonight is that all of this wealth in comparison to the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven, as Paul said, is but dung. I don’t know if this man was saved or not, but if he wasn’t, I’m sure he’d trade it all in for the peace of God.

“Find any treasure, lately”

Matt 13:44

44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

1. Firstly, let’s examine the hidden treasures of life, since every man and woman present

tonight is engaged in this search

A. This quest is built into human nature

a. The treasure they seek may be a place, a person, a purchase, or a dream

b. It may be an experience, a position for power, or an achievement

c. It is a hunt for treasure that they believe will make life worth living

Remember getting my first bicycle…it was everything to me. It was valuable.

Reading about a farmer that bought a bigger farm. This was his treasure. His first year was an ok year. He had made a note in his ledger…it read, “I must do better next year.”

In the ledger, it was recorded that the years harvest was horrible. He made just enough money to pay for shipping. His dreams died from there. He became a bartender and an alcoholic.

d. There are many searching even now for the treasure of life.

e. I know a pastor’s dream, “If I had a larger church.”

f. To others, more resources, more this or that

g. Beloved, in our mind…if I can just discover the treasure…this is the nature of the human heart

Eccl 1:13

13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

Eccl 1:17

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

Eccl 2:1

1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

Eccl 2:3

3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Eccl 2:7-10

7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

B. Can’t Get No Satisfaction

a. Solomon was a rich man…billionare…but listen to his words in the end

Eccl 2:11

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

b. In other words…this man searched and labored and built and accomplished

c. He had experience…he experienced it

d. And in the end, He hated life…it was vanity and vexation of spirit

e. And tonight, we all have our search

f. For the nature of the human heart is to search for the treasure

Dione Saunders said these words: “Power came, when, as a kid, I realized I was gifted at something. I discovered I could do things other kids my age could not do. Suddenly I began to realize this gave me power. That power gave me the ability to lead others.