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SCRIPTURE READINGS: GENESIS 29:15-28, ROMANS 8:26-39, MATTHEW 13:31-33, 44-52

REFLECTION

Search for the hidden treasure is the theme for our reflection. What is the hidden treasure in today’s reflection? The hidden treasure is the Kingdom of God  as stated in Matthew 13:44,  “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field” We shall discuss the following points:

1. We must search for the hidden treasure with our hearts and time.
2. We must search for the hidden treasure with our resources.
3. We must search for the hidden treasure by enduring suffering on account of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. We must search for the hidden treasure by living a life of righteousness.

Firstly, we must search for hidden treasure with our hearts and time. In Genesis 29:15-28, we saw how Jacob loved Rachel but was given Leah to marry after working seven years for Rachel. He nevertheless had to work fourteen years just to marry Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel from his heart and spent his time working for Laban, his father-in-law just to marry the love of his life. Dear friend, with a similar zeal or passion for love, we must pursue the Kingdom of God.  If we love God with our heart and serve Him with our time we shall be rewarded with the Kingdom of God. Jesus reminds us of the most important commandment which is, “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30). Let us dedicate our time to the Lord by participating in activities such as evangelism, choir rehearsals, attending Church services, studying and preaching the Word of God and communal labour toward the cleaning of the house of God. Just like Jacob loved Rachel and worked fourteen years just to have her, we must also love and serve the Lord till we attain the hidden treasure, the Kingdom of God.

Secondly, we must search for the hidden treasure or Kingdom of God with our resources. Jesus said that “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. (Matthew 13:44). Jesus further admonishes in Matthew 6:19-21 that  ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Dear friend, If we know the value of eternal life or the Kingdom of God, we will not worship or hold onto riches and wealth as if life is all about worldly possessions. It is, for this reason, Paul admonishes Timothy to tell the rich that “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Let us live a Kingdom-conscious life with our earthly riches. Using our resources for the furtherance of the mission of God on earth is actually one of the ways to search and find the hidden treasure, the Kingdom of God. It is for this reason, Jesus said to the young rich man “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21). What are you willing to let go so that you can follow Jesus in attaining the eternal life or the Kingdom of God. Jesus greatly encourages us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) 

Thirdly, we must search for the hidden treasure by enduring suffering on account of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who endure suffering and tribulations on account of Jesus Christ are saved and loved by God. They become the beneficiaries of the hidden treasure or the Kingdom of God, it is for this reason Paul assures us that “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39). We are further assured by Jesus in Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…”  When we endure suffering and persecution on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ, nothing shall separate us from His love, we shall become citizens and co-heirs with Him in the Kingdom of God.

Last but not least, we must search for hidden treasure by living a life of righteousness. Jesus reminds us that if we live in sin we shall be like fish caught in a big net but during the sorting process by the fishermen, the good fish are placed in a container and the bad ones are thrown away, Jeus says “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49-50) When we refuse to live a righteous life to glorify God, we shall never inherit the Kingdom of God, It is for this reason, Paul admonishes us, “do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Let us search for the hidden treasure or the Kingdom of God by following the perfect examples of Christ in living a righteous life to the glory of God. In other words, Paul admonishes us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1). The Kingdom of God is the reward for those who search for it by living a righteous life by offering their bodies to God as living Sacrifice.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Searching for the Hidden Treasure. We have discovered that we must search for the hidden treasure with our heart and time, we must search for the hidden treasure with our resources, we must search for the hidden treasure by enduring suffering and tribulation on account of our Lord Jesus Christ, and last but not least, we must search for the hidden treasure by living a life of righteousness. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to hold on to the priceless treasure of the Kingdom of God even as we lead others to also become co-heirs of the Kingdom of God. Amen.