“The Treasure Principle” A sermon on Matthew 13:44-45 by Matthew Everhard, originally delivered at Hudson Presbyterian Church, November 26, 2006.
The Leg: I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, a residential city where the houses are all close together, and the backyards small. Our playground, for the most part, was the street in front of our house. And so there was nothing I enjoyed more than going to my cousin’s house who lived in the country. Their house was on a large property, with fields, and woods, and streams and rocks to play on. One time as we were exploring the woods, following the creak downstream, we came upon a dump, where someone had apparently for quite some time, been illegally dumping their garbage. And as we approached we saw something that terrified us. (At this point I should tell you that this is a true story). We saw sticking out of that pile of junk, a human leg. And so, we did what any courageous young men would do: we ran away. But then we came back! Finally we mustered up the courage to move the pile of broken equipment, discarded boxes, and broken bottles to recover the body. And then, grabbing the leg and pulling, we discovered that it was a prosthetic leg! A real, honest to goodness prosthetic leg that some amputee had once used. Instead of a horror story, the adventure became a discovery of hidden treasure! Imagine all the ways two 10-year-old boys could use this device! The pranks, the gags, the practical jokes that could be done with this leg: the treasure was almost incalculable!
The joy of discovery: twin parables. Have you ever discovered something; found something that brought you instant joy or happiness? Ever found a ring on a beach, or uncovered an old coin with a metal detector, or found an arrowhead on a farm? If so, then you know the feeling of joyful discovery that Jesus is hinting at in these twin parables of the treasure and the pearl. In these twin parables in Matthew 13:44-45, which I believe both have the same meaning, Jesus tells the same three-part story: 1) a precious joy is discovered 2) the ultimate sacrifice is required to obtain it and 3) the supreme value is gained and treasured.
Interpreting parables: As a general rule, when we are interpreting parables, we have to caution ourselves not to overplay the details: We do not have to identify or spiritualize every single detail: what does “hidden” mean? Is that election? What is the “field” is that the Holy Spirit? What is “joy”? Is that martyrdom predicted in the first century? No! On the contrary, when we interpret Jesus’ parables, we are looking (on most occasions) for one primary thrust, one primary concept or idea that helps to communicate a spiritual truth that advances our love for God and our understanding of His reign.
Doctrine, The Treasure Principle: The Kingdom of God, that is, the reign of Jesus Christ in our hearts and lives, is so supremely valuable that it is worth any cost or price in this life, including life itself, in order that we may enjoy Him forever (repeat).
1. A Precious Joy Discovered: Let’s look closely again at this one sentence story:
In the Ground: Usually when modern readers hear this parable we wonder about the realism of the story. Would this kind of thing ever really happen? And yet we have to look back to the ancient world, a world where there were no banks, no safe deposit boxes, no instant transactions. And so if you had the fortune of accumulating any wealth, where do you think you would put it? Of course you would bury it. But the problem is that the old twenty-paces-from-the-sycamore-tree routine was a bit of an imprecise science. And so, from time to time, it was quite conceivable that buried treasure could be lost or forgotten.
How did he discover it? Well, the story does not tell us. Perhaps this man was a hired hand on the field, working the land with a plow when the blade struck a clay jar. Perhaps he dug it up with a shovel, we don’t know.
What is the treasure? But if there is one detail in the story that demands our attention, that demands an explanation it is this: what did Jesus mean to be signified by the treasure? What is the treasure? Tell me what is so valuable that I should sell everything I have to obtain it? Answer: 2 Corinthians 4:6 “that God who said ‘Let light shine out of the darkness’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Simply stated: the majestic God in His splendor and majesty, who calls worlds into existence with a word, whose holiness destroys evil as fire destroys paper, whom angels adore: this God has revealed His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
This is the Treasure! That a personal relationship with the King of the Universe can truly be had, and all the benefits of that relationship are ours: new life, the forgiveness of sin, the filling of the Spirit, eternal joy in His presence! And perhaps the most startling fact of the discovery is this: That you did not find Him, but rather that He has been pursuing you since the day of your birth. Calling you to repentance, calling you to relationship, calling you to a community of God’s people. As the Scripture says “no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws Him” (John 6:44). God Himself is the treasure!
Sadly though, many, many people settle for much, much less. Their treasure cannot be described as “the glory of God” at all. No, they settle for things, items, and trinkets, that are wasting away even as we speak. Some choose careers. Others lands. Others houses, beautiful houses filled with exotic rugs and plants and furniture, and mahogany, and tile. Have you ever considered that one day, perhaps not too far from today, your treasure (if it is earthly and not eternal) will be bulldozed to the ground! Somebody else will have it, build something else on top of it, and that too will be bulldozed to the ground, and nobody will remember it. And all that you labored for will be gone! Unless you decide today, that your treasure will be something far greater.
2) You see, as the laborer in the field discovers, the ultimate sacrifice is required to obtain true treasure. And so what does the man in the parable do. He goes home, and he sells everything, EVERYTHING, to buy the field because it is not the field that he cares about, but the treasure inside of it. And here we must be very careful in our interpretation: because the point of parable is NOT that the Kingdom can be bought. It is a paradox: grace is completely free, yet it is costly. (The cost was the blood of Christ spilt on our behalf). It accepts no human works or merits or good deeds as payment but only faith. And yet it demands radical obedience to God’s Lordship. And so the image of this may “buying” the field has more to do with the intent of his heart, than the manner of the transaction. (repeat).
Jim Elliot (American missionary to Auca Indians in South America): “He is no fool who give what he cannot keep to get what he cannot lose.”
The Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:7-9 describes it this way, “But whatever gain I had (past tense) I counted as LOSS for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count EVERYTHING as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” In fact in that line from his letter, I can’t help but wonder if Paul is thinking about this exact parable as he writes.
A commercial: There is a television commercial out now that boasts: “There is room in life for only one great passion”! Do you know what that commercial is selling? Viagra! But I actually believe that that is true. I just happen to disagree on the object of that passion.
What will it Cost You? And so I must ask, what has obtaining the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” ever cost you? I believe that when we stand before Almighty God at our judgment that will be one of the questions that we will all have to face. “What has it cost you?” What have you given up because you would rather have Him? What have you given away? What have you sacrificed? Anything? Ever moved to follow a call? Sold a property to give to missions? Dedicated a year to mentor a student? Gave up vacation to serve on a mission?
Nothing to Bring: But don’t stop short by thinking only about material sacrifice. The first and greatest sacrifice we ever make is to completely resign ourselves, as totally depraved sinners, to the grace of God, acknowledging that we bring nothing of value, nothing to merit His love, not one good work that can put God in the position of obligation, we bring nothing to the table to negotiate one bit. But in admitting that you bring nothing of value to Him, you are automatically bringing Him everything you are; failures, weaknesses, inadequacies…
Joy: The Key to Sacrifice: But did you notice the key word that most people miss when they read this passage? In fact you might have to read it five times to notice it. “With Joy”! Because of the surpassing value of the treasure, which we have said is the “knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” he sells all that he has to obtain it with joy! It is not begrudging, it is not with resentment, it is not with bitterness, but it springs forth from a heart that delights to give up all to obtain what is otherwise impossible to obtain.
3) And so, the Supreme Treasure is Gained: God gives the gift of Himself as the one treasure in the universe that has no limit. Take a moment to think about the concept of “infinity.” Think for a moment about a geometric line that has no limit. Or try to identify the highest possible number. Or think about eternity as an unending succession of moments. That same concept of “infinity” is applied to the glory of God. He is glorious beyond limit. He cannot increase for to increase in glory would imply that He was once less and that cannot be. The treasure cannot become more valuable than it already is, because it is impossible for God’s glory to increase beyond infinity. Nevertheless, our adoration and appreciation of His splendor, as finite beings, will grow from now throughout all the ages of ages of ages in Heaven forever.
For those who have bought the field: Maybe there are Christians today hearing this message who are saying to themselves “I have been a Christian now for many months. For many years. What does this passage say to me today?” Let me suggest some ways that you can apply the treasure principal in your life.
1. If God is your surpassing treasure: Is He also the surpassing value in your prayer life? Does the bulk majority of your prayer center on yourself or on God’s majesty? I want you to consider the prayer life of the writer of Psalm 86: “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you…There is none like You… nor are there any works like Yours…All the nations shall glorify Your name…I give thanks to you O Lord my God with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” That is treasure prayer! Buy you may object, “those kinds of words just don’t come to mind when I pray!” Try something simple like this: put away your concerns for one week. God will still honor them. And instead of praying your worries, set aside 15 minutes and just say “God, you are my surpassing treasure because…(and then fill in the blanks). You will find that your heart will actually LEARN to adore Him more and more.
2. The natural outcropping of the treasure principle in your prayer life will be that your actions follow suit. When God becomes the surpassing treasure of your heart, your mind and actions will soon follow. Giving will become easier. Serving will become easier. Youth group overnighters will become your joy!
3. The treasure principle is this: If God becomes the greatest joy of your heart, all other things to you, including suffering and hardship, will become as loss.
Why Not Buy the Field? But despite the surpassing value of the treasure, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” there are many who have not yet bought the field and obtained the treasure. Perhaps even in this very congregation there are some who have not yet bought the field through the free gift of faith in Jesus Christ. Why not?
· Perhaps they simply have not yet discovered the treasure. After all it is hidden. How many times was that clay jar in the parable walked over, stepped over, missed completely before it was discovered?
· Perhaps for others the cost of giving all is too much. They cannot bear the thought of obeying a master who demands holiness. They cannot leave their former lifestyle. The pleasure of sin is too alluring to resist. The thought that their best “good deeds” are worth nothing is just too insulting to their dignity.
· Perhaps they have seen the jar, considered the value of Christ, and then rejected it. How sad it will be for that person in the dawn of eternity having heard the offer of this treasure and walking away.
Prayer of Salvation: Heavenly Father, your grace, your love is a gift that transcends the imagination and boggles the mind. Your free offer of forgiveness, complete forgiveness, and adoration of Your majesty is nearly too much for us to comprehend. Oh God, if there is any person here today who has not yet bought the field, surrendered their all, acknowledged their sin, would you please draw them to You in this moment! Even now as we pray. O God, teach us to treasure You above all things. Amen.
