The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure - 1

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure - 1

Subject – Finding God’s True Treasure

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 13:44 (NKJV)
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. 

Psalm 119:162 (NKJV)
¹⁶²  I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. 

--Imagine with me a Hebrew man walking along with staff in hand headed to the city for business. To make his journey shorter he cuts through a field. This was permitted. 

--The field is uneven so he thrust his staff into the dirt to balance himself. He keeps walking and thrusting the staff into the ground when all of a sudden there is a thunk. What could that be? Didn’t sound like a rock.

--He bends down curiously and begins to wipe away dirt and he sees a box possibly lined with silver and gold. It looks like it has been there a long time. Hands shaking, he finally unlocks the chest.

--Oh wow! Gold and silver coins, jewelry, precious stones. A fortune! Some wealthy man must have buried it quickly when he was in danger or something, and then, died before he returned to get it.

--The landowner evidently has no clue it is there. The traveler buries the treasure and marks the spot. He heads home with a new spring in his step. Probably riding the staff like a stick horse.

--The law of the day was specific, whoever owned the field assumed ownership of everything in it. But how can I afford a big piece of property like this? I will sell everything, my farm, my crops, my oxen, my tools, all of it.

--From that moment on, everything the man does is with his new treasure in mind. This has transformed his world. Every decision he makes; he has the treasure on his heart.

--Many believe this passage talks about people finding the treasure of Christ. Some believe it speaks of Jesus giving His life for the treasure of people.

--Either way, it certainly portrays the joy of finding eternal treasure with such value, catch this, that far surpasses whatever it cost to get it. 

1. The Bible and Our Connection to Money.

--This parable of the hidden treasure is just one of many references Jesus made to money and possessions. Jesus referenced 15% of His teaching to this topic. More than the topics of heaven and hell combined.

--Why did Jesus put so much emphasis on money and possessions. Because there is an essential connection between our spiritual lives and how we handle money. Jesus sees them as inseparable. 

--We won’t take time to read it but in Luke 3 three different groups asked John how they should prove their repentance. V.11 clothes and food with the poor. V.13 Tax collectors don’t cheat. V.14 Soldiers don’t extort.

Randy Alcorn – Our approach to money and possessions is central to our spiritual lives. 

Luke 19:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸  Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."
⁹  And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

Acts 2:44-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
⁴⁵  and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Acts 4:32-35 (NLT2)
³²  All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
³³  The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
³⁴  There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them
³⁵  and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 

--Maybe you have forgotten this but even one of our Distinctives as a church is Generous Giving. Jesus commended the poor widow who out of her poverty put in everything she had in the offering.

--In contrast Jesus spoke of the rich young ruler who spent all his wealth on himself. Do you see the money connection? Jesus called him a fool. He was rich but not rich toward God.

--The rich young ruler pressed Jesus about how he could obtain eternal life. Watch for the money connection.

Matthew 19:21 (NLT2)
²¹  Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

--Jesus knew he could not serve two masters. Sadly, he chose his wealth. Sadly, he chose the lesser fading treasure walking away from the treasure that was eternal.

2. Smart or Stupid

--Watch this…the rich young man wasn’t willing to give up everything for a greater treasure, and the traveler in the field was. Why? Because the traveler understood what he would gain. 

--Should we feel sorry for the traveler? What he found cost him everything he owned. No, we do not pity this man, we envy him. What he sacrifices doesn’t even compare with what he gains. His reward is great.

--The traveler made short term sacrifice for long term reward. I hope you are understanding. It cost him everything he had but he gained far more than he lost.

Key – If we miss the part of the verse where it says “for joy” he sells everything he has. This was not begrudging sacrifice; it was him being a joyful giver. Lord, help us!

--In this parable Jesus is appealing to what we value…temporary, earthly treasure compared to eternal, heavenly treasure. The treasure in the field represents finding Jesus, the gospel, and the Kingdom of God. The best by far!

--Any earthly treasure we part with to obtain that far greater treasure is well worth the exchange. The sacrifice we make for missions is well worth it when you think of the souls who are being saved. Listen to Jesus:

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Jesus says Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. Why? Because earthly treasures are bad? No, because they won’t last. 

Proverbs 23:5 (NIV)
⁵  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. 

--When Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it is not because wealth might be lost, it’s because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions.

--According to Jesus, storing up earthly treasures isn’t simply wrong. It’s just plain stupid. No eternal sense. 

3. A Treasure Mentality and Principle.

--Jesus doesn’t just tell us where not to put our treasure, He also gives us the best investment advice ever, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

--God is not against us storing up treasure, He commands us to do it. He’s just telling us to stop doing it in the wrong place and start storing it in the right place!

--Store up for yourselves…almost sounds strange that Jesus would tell us to do something that is best for own self interests. Seems selfish. He wants us to live to His glory, but what is to His glory is always to our good. 

John Piper – God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

--When we serve God and others, we store up treasures in heaven. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. Why? Because you can’t take it with you. Hearse with a U-Haul truck.

--Jesus shares a profound truth with us which is a part of the Treasure Principle. You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead of you.

Alcorn – Anything we try to hang on to here will be lost. But anything we put in God’s hands will be ours for eternity. If that doesn’t take your breath away, you don’t understand it. 

--If we invest in the eternal instead of in the temporal, we store up treasures in heaven that will never stop paying dividends. 

--Whatever we store up on earth will be left behind when we leave. Whatever treasures we store up in heaven will be waiting for us when we arrive. 

Alcorn - You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead of you.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Where is your treasure and where is your heart?