God Treasure is Kingdom Treasure After teaching His incredibly transferable Kingdom parables (the Sower, the Wheat and the Weeds, the Seed, the Leaven, the Hidden Treasure, the Costly Pearl, and the Dragnet) Jesus makes a curious statement and asks His disciples a question in Matthew 13:51-52. "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes." And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old." Let's give this some careful thought as we encounter what the God Story says about treasure. Jesus is crystal clear regarding the perishable and imperishable (Matthew 6:19-24) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." He then includes a Light and Darkness metaphor: "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Is He saying that wealth is evil? No. It appears He is once again is commenting on what shows honor. √ What is capturing your heart? It is very difficult to avoid the concerns of this life, but quite important to keep "a clear eye" with regard to earthly treasures. √ How do we allow Jesus and His Kingdom to captivate our hearts so that we can be good for the mission of the Kingdom church? √ Paul talks about making use of the world but not making full use of it. Where do you land on this? "But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away." 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 The Treasure Process "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs and pains." 1 Timothy 6:6-10 If Jesus has all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden within Himself (Colossians 2:3) - then knowing Him is everything. We exchange what our world can only offer temporarily for the Kingdom circle: Pure Heart, Know God, Do Kindness, Grow Life. These are the treasures which will travel with us into the life to come! This is interesting: "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward." Hebrews 11:24-26 It seems to us that God Treasure is our greatest value. Dave and Burnadette More: On the Kingdom Parables The Kingdom Circle
