(Matthew 13:44)
Treasures are objects we VALUE.
Gold.
Silver.
Diamond.
Platinum.
These are TREASURES for the average person because they command high value in the market.
This “High Value” is simply based on PERCEPTION, not necessarily what it’s really WORTH.
A century ago, Ghana had a lot of Gold (it was called Gold Coast back then). Gold was everywhere- very common. So it didn’t have much value because it was very easy to get. But Aluminium was very difficult to get, so naturally, it commanded a higher value. So, the commoners wore Gold Accessories, while Royalty wore Aluminium Accessories.
It was all based on PERCEPTION and AVAILABILITY.
Jesus taught His Disciples a lesson about Treasure, using a Parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew13:44).
Some things worthy of note here:
The owner of that field was not aware of the Treasure in it.
The man who found it was aware- and he kept the information to himself.
He decided to buy the field because of the treasure in it, not because of the land itself or anything else.
The owner sold it based on the value he placed on it, not necessarily what it was really worth because of the treasure in it he was ignorant about.
The buyer willingly sold everything he had to buy the field because he knew what was in it was worth much more than what he was selling to buy it.
Sometimes, treasures are not known, valued or recognized by the owners, like in the case of this Parable Jesus gave.
PERCEPTION often clouds our judgment like in the case of the Gold Coast (Ghana).
We are not always keen to look beyond the surface: we jump to conclusions easily, based on what we SEE, not necessarily what we KNOW.
That was why Lot chose the Plains of Jordan: he placed a higher value on that side based on what he SAW.
Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I want you to know that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:12). And what happened to him? He was chained and thrown in Prison! In that condition, Paul recognized the TREASURE in it! Anybody else would have seen it as a PROBLEM, a liability, not an asset!
In the Book of Job, God made a very interesting submission: “Have you entered into the Treasures of the SNOW? Or have you seen the Treasures of the HAIL?” (Job 38:22).
The average person sees SNOW and HAIL as problems and disasters. We see them as unnecessary challenges. We never see them as good.
Snow keeps us indoors & we have to wear thick clothes to keep warm. Hail can shatter roofs and car windscreens and damage crops in the farm. Neither of them is viewed or received with joy. But God here says there is TREASURE in them! The problem with us is, most times, we are limited to what we SEE. We need INSIGHT and KNOWLEDGE to see beyond the surface.
That was what that man who sold all his belongings to buy a field that didn’t seem to have much value had: INSIGHT. He saw the treasure in the snow and the treasure in the hail, what the owner who sold it to him did not see.
Things are not always how they appear, folks.
“While we look not on things that are visible, but on things that are not visible: for the visible things are temporary; but the invisible things are eternal.” (2nd Corinthians 4:18).
The most valuable treasures are not easily visible to the natural eyes: we need Spiritual Insight from God to SEE and most importantly, RECOGNIZE them
God open our eyes to see beyond the ordinary and insights beyond the natural in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
Shalom,
Haruna Daniels