Thought for the Day - Wednesday 29 July

Thought for the Day – Wednesday 29^th July

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”’ (Matthew 13: 44)

So far to help folk understand what this ‘kingdom of heaven’ is like we have seen it referred to as a mustard seed and yeast, now Jesus talks of it being like treasure hidden in a field. This parable may not be quite as familiar an image for people as some of Jesus’ previous ones but it is nonetheless quite a simple illustration for folk and for us to understand.

Have you ever come across something unexpectedly and been so delighted at finding it?

Well that’s what happens to the person in today’s passage, such is his joy at finding treasure in this field that he must have that field, so he immediately goes and sells every single thing that he has just so he can own that field and have unlimited access to that treasure.

When I read this passage it reminds me of the joy the disciples had in their discovery of Jesus and their immediate action of leaving everything behind to follow him - and actually I think this is what we are supposed to gain from this story in relation to the kingdom of heaven.

You see, the person in the parable was not actively looking for the treasure but when he found it, that treasure had a profound impact on his life – the joy he experienced, that desire to have the field, that impulse he felt to sell everything he had just to have that treasure in his life was so great that he was willing to surrender everything he had in his pursuit of that treasure.

Now, consider this – the field represents the world and that hidden treasure is Jesus. So the man was not actively seeking Jesus he just came across him one day, but when he found him he had to have him in his life!

So much so, that immediately he was willing to give up everything he had just to have Jesus in his life. It costs the man everything but such was his joy at his discovery of Jesus that he did not think about the cost rather he just willingly, on impulse, gave up everything for Jesus – Jesus who brought the kingdom of heaven here to earth and shows how we can grow that kingdom.

So the man was just like those first disciples when they immediately gave up everything to follow Jesus and to grow the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is our treasure and the kingdom of heaven is indeed a great treasure too and it should bring us as much joy as it did to the man in the parable and encourage us to give up all we can in order to share it and to grow it.

Prayer

Loving Lord,

We give you thanks for the word that you hide like a treasure in our heart, for the yeast which is able to penetrate to every area of our life - for the seed that is able to grow into a mighty plant. Help us to value that which you have given us; to make following Christ the most important thing in our daily lives; to concentrate above all upon doing your will and sharing your love and the good news you have proclaimed through with one another and with the world. Bless each one of us according to the need we have and bring us all into a closer walk with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.