Our Treasure Field

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44

Most of us love finding treasure, something unexpected that makes us happy. Some of us make a living out of seeking for lost earthly treasure and it is exciting when we find something. Even the search brings anticipation and pleasure.

Everyone loves positive experiences, friends, family, etc. but if we, Christians, were asked to list five things that we cared most about, we would most likely list God, family, job, hobby, pets or the like.

If then we were asked to list the five things on which we spend most of our time and effort, our list might look quite different. Understandably, we spend most of our time either on work, sleep, and on the things that bring us pleasure.

And he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure. Isaiah 33:6

God has told us to labor and to support our families. Though He will supply our needs, still He expects us to do our part. The things we spend time on with our family and friends are not wrong in His eyes either, but often our pleasure is the center of our treasure. What we take pleasure in can become our focus instead of God.

With so little time for all the things seemingly necessary in this world, our Godly treasure can be pushed aside or even lost altogether. Isaiah says that the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure. Fear of the Lord means respect. Respecting the Lord and seeing Him as our true treasure means He will provide stability, salvation, wisdom and knowledge. These are indeed treasures needed in today society.

Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. James 5:3

God knows that we live in a world that requires a considerable amount of time on things that are not about Him. However, He is with us always and we can and should acknowledge His presence in all we do. Every activity should be done while we talk and sing and laugh with God. Our families would then see where our true treasure lies.

If others see that our time is spent more on the Internet than in the Bible, more on texting than listening to their needs and concerns and praying, more on accumulating wealth than on giving it to the needy, they will know that our treasure is here on earth. “God must not be that important”, is what they will think.

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

If we look back at past work and activities that have collapsed around us, we will see that God was not the focus. We were seeking other treasures and He was not the center of the effort. We may think we failed. Our efforts for God will be much more successful and only the treasure we have built up for the kingdom of God matters.

Worldly rust and moths will destroy what we do and what we own here. Those things are unimportant.

Storing up treasure in heaven is not all about time spent but is more about what we would and would not give up, what we keep in our hearts, and where our thoughts are. If we find that there is something in our lives that we cannot give up to God, it might have become a treasure.

Keeping God in our hearts and minds during all other activities and being able to cease those activities if the Holy Spirit impresses us or the word of God tells us will ensure that our treasure is what it should be and is being stored in the proper place.

Our treasure hunt is in heaven. The field of riches that we seek is heaven. We must rid ourselves (sell all we have as the scripture says) of earthly activities that possess us, and instead possess that field of heavenly treasure at all costs.

And here is a reminder for those who have been blessed with riches here on earth.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. Timothy 6:17-19

Prayer: Father in heaven, you are our gold and silver. You are the riches we desire. Remind us to bring You into everything we do. Reveal those earthly treasures that we need to eliminate from our lives. Remind us of your blessings each time we think we have accomplished something on our own. We need your wisdom and knowledge to recognize that your kingdom that is like a treasure field, is all the treasure we need to seek. Amen