It's funny that I referenced Indiana Jones the other day in my blog, because it seems that I have discovered a cache of hidden treasure myself.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
Matthew 13:44
Make no mistake, that passage is principally about discovering salvation and understanding it's true value... being prepared to lay everything required down, in order to embrace it.
However, what of those of us who are already saved? Can it be taken further?
I believe so.
What of God's promises in this life? And what of the things that are spiritually good for us?
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Phillippians 4:8
If it is good for us, if it is beneficial to our walk with God... then we should seek it out. When our heart is set on Godly things we can have confidence, for:
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Luke 11:9-13
I have recently blundered into a field like the man described in the parable I opened with. Just scratching the surface reveals God's goodness. Richer than rubies, finer than gold. By God's grace I have stumbled upon it.
Now there is no doubt what I have discovered is exceedingly good (to borrow an expression from Mr. Kipling... whose cakes are insignificant in comparison to the blessings of God), but is it right for me?
One things for certain I'm going to be taking it up with God - the owner of the field, because I have seen that which he put out there and if in any way by his grace and in his sovereignty, he sees fit to let me attain it. Then I shall consider myself among all men truly blessed.
In fact whatever the outcome, I already feel richly blessed.
God is good. God is indeed good and his love endures forever.
Is it right? I don't know... I see the obstacles and the difficulties... but I also see the Lord.
I just want to make sure I keep in step with God and take hold of his promises at the time he chooses.
I'd like to wrap up by posting this song by Mike and the Mechanics... I think it sums up my recent journeys quite accurately:
God bless
N
See, this is the problem I have with Christians. Please don't be angry with me, but you have this wrong. If you check out the text where you got this, all the other parables use "man" as representing "the Lord". This parable is no different. Proper hermeneutics dispels so much of what you consider "truth".
ReplyDeleteKip I'm not angry with you... but you are never going to understand Christians, or the Bible if you just treat the Bible as a mere text book with only one answer to every question.
ReplyDeleteIt's a living document, with prayer and a relationship with God, you can find passages speak to you in different ways with regard to your life.
From wiki:
Like the Parable of the Pearl, the intent of this parable is to convey that some rewards are great enough to be worth great sacrifices: the man may have to sell all that he had in order to be able to buy the field, but when he buys the field, he gains the treasure in it, which is worth more than all that he sold. Jesus told this parable to express the idea that even if living according to God's commandments was a difficult thing to do and demanded great sacrifices, they would result in the reward of the Kingdom of Heaven. An alternate interpretation is that Jesus is the man who buys the field, paying for it with His blood to attain the hidden treasure, i.e. Israel or the Church.
You see there, that both theological ideas about the central theme are covered.
I encourage you to accept that there are other ways to look at things other than through your own personal world view.
I'll admit I don't believe you are being entirely fair in that you have lumped all Christians together in that statement... which leads me to suspect that you've had some bad experiences with a few Christians which have encouraged you to tar them all with the same brush.
The trouble with doing that, is that once you start it... it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. No one can succeed because in your eyes they have already failed.
Irrespective of who holds that view - and who they hold it towards, it isn't a healthy way to live.
Regards and blessings
N