Treasure

Treasure

reading: Matt.13:44+45

When one speaks about treasure, there is often formed in peoples minds romantic pictures of adventures on the high seas, or in the depths of a wilderness, be it jungle or desert. There is the travelling for miles with an old map with the mystical "X",marking the spot. Of course we should not forget the cryptic clues. Our hero passes many dangers, from poisoned darts and arrows, traps of all kinds from falling objects, various pit to nets and ropes that would hold. These have all been set to prevent the stealing of the much treasured valuables, the gems, gold and other items of

values are not to be easily taken.

We should also not forget the heroine, our leading lady who at first finds our hero somewhat detestable, but nevertheless succumbs to this prime example of manhood.

Others talk about treasuring things or time. Some even call their loved one "treasure." The bible often embraces these metaphorical uses and adds to them. Such texts as:

(Matt 6:19) "Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth."

(Lk 12:21) "...he who lay’s up treasure for himself...is not rich toward God."

(Lk 12:34) "Where your treasure is, there your heart is also."

(Prov. 15:6) "In the house of righteousness there is much treasure.

(Prov 21:20) "Precious treasure remains in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man

devours it

They all portray the sense of something of great value. This is one of the senses of the Greek word translated treasure.

Paul in 2 Cor 4:6+7, talks about God commanding:

"Let light shine out of darkness. "Who has shone in Ourhearts to give The Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.

The illumination of the Gospel, the person becoming the very habitation of God, is the vast treasure. It requires an action to produce light. There is an effort required to produce light, energy must be expended to overcome darkness. Darkness is the norm,

where as light is abnormal. If nothing was to happen, darkness would reign. So light is a precious commodity. Now when the bible talks about the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God," we are talking about something that is not to be found in the normal state of affairs. God has acted so that we can know and have this knowledge which is of immeasurable value.

This immeasurable; valuable treasure has been placed within the people of God, in "earthen vessels." It is a fact that most earthen vessels are of little value. They have quite mundane functions. Some we drink out of, some we eat out and off of. Others we fill with earth and put plants into them, others are simple containers. Still more we decorate, glaze and fire.

In Timothy we are told that vessels can be transformed from being only fit for ignoble use, to being cleansed and make fit for noble use. Here Paul is showing that vessels of what the world see’s as only of small value, can be changed by God to:-

(1) Contain the very transforming light and power of Christ.

(2) Show His transcendent power, which is God’s and not ours.

Paul has already declared that he could find nothing of value within himself, but in Christ Jesus, he has found a depth of value and quality of immeasurable wealth that he simply cannot find the end off.

This treasure that we have received, is not just for the time to come, or for the time when we first came to Christ, but it is to be a present reality. These earthen vessels have not just been transformed to noble use, so that they can be decorated and glazed. There after to be placed upon a shelf so that they can be gazed at. Only used on special occasions. They have been created to continually receive the in flowing

treasure of Christ that continually renews and refills, so that the Light of Him grows and grows.

There are times when we feel the strain of that, and we say we cannot take any more. Yet He still pours Himself in, with the result of us having an increasing capacity for Him. Every time this happens we get amazed as we pass yet another point where we thought we would burst or break, so moving into His elasticity.

Yet the benefits of all this is, that He provides the place of safe keeping. This is the second meaning of this Greek word. A store house, a strong room.

(Matt 12:35) The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out his evil treasure bring forth evil."