Treasuring Christ Over Everything Else

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

What is your biggest wish today? Is it for peace? Success? Comfort?

The state of your heart has everything to do with what you value, what you yearn for. At times I find myself trading the ultimate gift of our Creator for what’s created – idolizing what I can see. This does not satisfy me in the end, but only leaves me discontent, restless, or covetous.

Scripture tells us that to fully flourish we must be careful to guard ours hearts, being sure to set them on heaven. (see Colossians 3:1, Proverbs 4:23)

With this in mind, come with me to the striking parable in Matthew 13:44. By bringing it to life, I hope to remember the power of the salvation we have—of the incomparable treasure we have in Jesus.

A Life-Changing Discovery

Sweat trickled down his back as the man toiled under the afternoon sun. He had been plowing for hours, his body diligently preparing the land for planting, but his mind lay elsewhere. His wife and children were desperately sick, and his patience wearing thin.

This labor would last for another week, and then employment was up in the air. What can I do? Will there be work as winter approaches? Such anxiety pulled at his heart, until a bump startled him to his senses.

The plow was stuck. He wiggled it, looking to work it loose. The soil was dry, posing no resistance. Looking closer, the man realized the problem lay under the dirt.

Ah, a rock! With a sigh he went to his knees, digging away at the ground in front of the plow with fervor, for the sun was dropping fast. No granite culprit appeared, but the top of metallic box held the plow fast.

What is this? He began digging furiously, his mind racing with possibility. According to customs, whatever it was, it was his. He could take this mysterious trinket home!

The kids will love a little gift! He smiled slightly. Yet the box was anything but little. He was gradually forming a substantial hole, slowly but surely revealing a chest!

Could this really be…a treasure? His pulse raced, anticipation flooding his heart. Breaking the now rusted lock, the man lifted the lid to see what he never thought possible—hope.

A hope so complete, so real, so guaranteed, that he dropped everything… Dropped his woes and dropped his plow, running to the owner with every penny saved and every possession he had, buying that field that very day.

The treasure was worth it, and it would change everything. 

Christ is the Treasure

Like the man, do we recognize Christ’s value, as we plow through life?
Are we willing to drop everything to have Him, knowing He is the answer to all we seek?

The treasure in Christ is not one of gold or precious jewels, it is of eternal promise. The future we have with our Savior, the renewed relationship we have with our God, has a worth beyond anything we could ever win, earn, or buy.

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In Christ, the kingdom of heaven is ours. But in order to take hold of it, to experience the same joy as the man in the field, we have to recognize its value. 

Why is Jesus such a treasure? Why do we surrender everything for His Kingdom?

In a world of of risk, of decay, of brokenness, of transience:

He is priceless.

He is incorruptible.

He is forever.

He is guaranteed.

He is the truth.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you… 1 Peter 1:3-4

What This Means for Us

Remember, this man had to dig to find this beautiful discovery. In our culture we celebrate what’s loud and proud, what we can see, but the kingdom of heaven is not so easily found.

We have to spiritually dig daily, knowing that God’s glory is in the details, in the subtle beauty of His Scripture and grace.

The man also had to give all he had to receive what was truly treasure. Our belief that the treasure – Jesus – is valuable becomes real when we exchange our temporary comforts for Him.

Finally, the man had joy! When we count Christ as precious, the door is open for untouchable joy. All that we surrender to have him does not compare to His love, which holds us secure now and in eternity.

How did you discover Christ as treasure? How does knowing Him as an unfading treasure change your perspective in your current season in life? Comment below. 

One way you can treasure Christ is by studying who He is. You can do so with Adoring His Attributes, the prayer journal that takes you through 30 days of worship.