"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The person that found the treasure discovered something that others had not found, recognized its value, and responded with joy. We don't always share every part of this experience. We have the treasure pointed out to us, are told of the value, and experience, not nothing, but something that falls short of pure joy. We don't appreciate the uniqueness of the treasure or how unlikely attaining it truly is. We grasp that it is valuable in some abstract sense of comprehension. But we don't really know what the value means for us. And this means that when we discover that obtaining it will cost all that we have we are often reluctant to do so.
What if we simply go and observe the treasure first hand, to see the reason for all the fuss? Perhaps a direct experience rather than hearsay will change the way we relate to the treasure. Maybe it is hard to appreciate the value through the lens of the experience of others. But maybe if we see it shining before our own eyes we will more easily understand the all surpassing difference it can make in our lives. Maybe then we will revalue it as a must have rather than a nice to have. If we must trade all that we have and all that we are for this treasure a half-hearted approach won't be enough. It is not meant to be a decoration alongside others in the art gallery of our lives. It will change everything about us in ways that are hard to fully understand before we acquire it. We may become poor in some ways, but rich in others which we had not guessed or even dreamed.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
The merchant was able to recognize in the pearl of great price and culmination of all that he had desired and sought in his life. This pearl was the apex of value to such a degree that it was a worthy trade for all else that he possessed. Other pearls had some value, some luster, to be sure. They only hinted at the possibility that something like this pearl could exist. All of the other pearls together were not worth the price of this one. The merchant knew he was getting a bargain to receive it even in exchange for all that he had. He had two traits that helped make him ready to make this life-changing purchase. He was a connoisseur of value, and those things which had true value. And he dedicated himself to the search for the fulfillment of his desire for the highest value. This meant that when he discovered a value that surpassed all value, and a worth that transcended all else he had known, he was highly motivated to acquire it. We may assume that most folks aren't so systematic about their search for the highest things and, as a consequence, don't always recognize the true goods from those that are merely apparent. We may need to acquire a greater clarity of vision and of purpose if we are to have sufficient awareness to motivate us to obtain the Kingdom when providence brings it across our path.
How do we experience the treasure and the pearl? Do they seem worth the cost of discipleship? Well, they are worth the cost. And this means that if we do not experience them that way it is something about us, not about them. But it is something that is correctable, in light of this guidance from Jesus. As long as we believe him about the value of his Kingdom he can gradually work in our hearts to help us truly appreciate that value in a way that actually motivates us and transforms us. When we take Jesus at his word and live like his Kingdom is as valuable as he says it is we will more and more experience the reality of this claim. It is an experience so great it surpasses even that which made the face of Moses radiant before the Lord.
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? (see Second Corinthians 3:7-8).
No comments:
Post a Comment