Secrets to Finding the Greatest Treasure

Treasure is being discovered all around us! Hundreds of millions of dollars in prizes are waiting for someone in lotteries across the country. What would you do if you won $300 million? Or $30 million? Or even $3 million? That kind of treasure is so in demand that as the prize increases, so does the participation.

Can you imagine a lottery where everyone wins when they buy a ticket?

What is treasure?

When I think of treasure my mind jumps to treasure hunters and a search for some buried fortune in remote hills, islands or under the sea. What do you think about?

Treasure means many things:

1. Something of inestimable value. Can you even begin to think about how you would spend hundreds of millions of dollars? It boggles my mind.
2. Something that would surely change your life. True treasure would transform the way you live and view life and all the struggles you have experienced so far.
3. Something rare and highly sought after. By its very nature, treasure is rare and is considered to be worth any effort you make to achieve it.
4. Something few people have. Because it is rare, few have attained it. It is hard to find, hard to keep and almost never seen.
5. Something that inspires us and gives us hope. Many people build their lives on the hope of discovering treasure. They invest their effort and time and money in order to discover it. It motivates them every day and empowers all their labors and lives.

Did you know that Jesus had a thing or two to say about treasure, wealth and unexpected good financial fortune? Listen to this.

“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.

 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” 

Matthew 13:44–46 (ESV)

Jesus illustrates two ways treasure can be found:

1. Stumbling upon it – the treasure in the field.
2. Searching for it – the merchant.

Jesus is teaching us, if we will listen, about the Kingdom of Heaven. He is making a comparison to something that is very tangible. Sadly, we often think about treasure as something tangible. But the most valuable and sought after things in life are more often not tangible. Look at the value of the kingdom of heaven.

It is a treasure!

We cannot calculate its value!

The kingdom of heaven is eternal and glorious. This is a place that will be our home forever. We cannot even begin to describe how this will feel!

It is transformational

This treasure changes everything. We pass from death to life, from fear to hope, from wandering to purposeful, from empty to full and from wondering to knowing!

It is highly sought after

These seven things have great value – they are treasure. Consider that the kingdom of heaven gives them without limit. We are granted mercy, grace, love, peace, patience, power and significance!

When we are honest with ourselves, we know we need mercy. We have made so many mistakes and have squandered so many opportunities. We have ignored God and inflicted pain on others, so often in ignorance but sometimes intentionally. Mercy does not consider these offenses but forgives them.

Grace is so comforting. We know that we are accepted just the way we are and then changed into the people God wants us to be. He grants us adoption as his children and full citizenship in the kingdom of heaven! What a gift. His grace goes with us every day so we can live in fellowship with Jesus.

We are created to love and be loved. God’s love is poured into our lives without measure. His love is also poured through our lives so others around us can bask in his goodness and receive the comfort that only unconditional love brings.

Peace is a profound sense of well-being. Despite all that is happening around us, we can enjoy a peace that comes only from knowing we are right with God.

Everyone wants more patience and everyone wants to experience more patience from others! We need lots of patience as we blunder through life and relationships. Understanding brings patience but God gives us patience when we ask him. He also builds up our understanding so we can be more naturally patient every day.

Power is an abused term and is itself abused. The kingdom of heaven is about the power of God working through our lives for good. When that power flows, we see lives changed, people encouraged and hope renewed. God gives us power to do things we never thought possible. It is our heritage as children of God.

Significance is something I think more about as I get older. We all long to make a mark on this world – to live with significance. Entering into the kingdom of heaven takes us into lives of significance. God calls us and leads us into lives that make a difference and leave a mark!

Few people have entered the Kingdom

Jesus told us this would be. The lies of Satan keep people out. He does his best to convince people that the kingdom of heaven is not great treasure. Our inborn selfishness keeps us out. We want what we want the way we want it. And we are ignorant of what is really best for us. The treasure of the kingdom is available to all – few have it!

The Kingdom is about hope

We do not just enter the kingdom, we live in it daily. In the kingdom, we see an incredible future and participate in life changing service. Every day should be approached anticipation and excitement. We believe in miracles and expect to see more of them!

We enter the kingdom in faith

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (ESV)

We live daily in the kingdom by power

The kingdom of God is entered and lived in by faith – hearing, responding in faith. We receive power to do what God calls us to do and enjoy fellowship with God daily. The blessings of the kingdom flow into our lives every single day!

It’s Yours – Take It!

So great treasure is ours in the kingdom of heaven. Everything we need for a full, rich, abundant life is there for the taking! It is a gift from God. And the fullness of that gift is available to us right now!