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Matthew 13:44 NLT
‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.’
In this parable, Jesus introduces us to a different reality. Describing it as the kingdom, it is distinctly unsettling since it demands that I submit entirely to the rule of God in my life. Having grown up with an understanding that I might exercise a measure of choice over my destiny, it is a challenge to embrace the absolutism of God’s rule.
Much like the treasure discovered in a field, I wasn’t seeking salvation when I found it. This was all new, and indeed the implications of my initial “yes” to God were unknown. The wisdom of the parable is that the man recognised that this treasure held a value far in excess of everything he had, and so sold up everything to secure this treasure.
My approach has been an attempted ongoing negotiation with God. I become aware of what God would have me surrender and what kingdom feature attracts me. I then barter for the best deal, always holding onto aspects of my life that have no place under God’s rule. The problem is, absolutism knows no compromise. There is no negotiation possible. Initially this seems harsh, yet as I have slowly discovered more of the benefits of God’s rule, so I’ve loosened my hold on taking control of my own life.
The “someone” who discovered the treasure isn’t described. Simply because such treasure is for everyone, yet only on condition that they exchange all that they have to secure it for themselves. Scripture gives no timeframe for this transaction, and my experience is that surrender to God’s rule takes quite some time. What’s more, I buy a field containing the treasure, so who’s to say someone hasn’t already removed the treasure? Surrender to God is a high-risk strategy, strong in parable yet weak in objective guarantees. It is a rule that can be described from outside, yet whose benefits can only be experienced from within.
QUESTION: What might you need to get rid of to discover more of Christ’s kingdom?
PRAYER: Father, you are consistent and insistent that we love you with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Help me do that today.
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