Finding Treasure

Posted on May 25, 2010

I woke up this morning with a prayer on my lips: “Lord, reveal yourself to me.”

I spent most of yesterday evening praying, singing songs of worship, and searching for God’s presence. Right before bed, I prayed that I would not lose that sense of purpose in seeking Him. It just seems too easy to forget the good things of yesterday when you wake up to a new day. So, when I woke up this morning, I really felt I needed a strong sense of his presence, otherwise my day would just be wasted.

Immediately after I prayed this prayer, an image popped into my head. It was from a parable that Jesus told long ago about the man who finds buried treasure in a field and sells all he has to go purchase that field and have the treasure.

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

I could see that man’s face light up with utter joy and excitement at the sight of the treasure he had found. I could feel his heart pumping fast, and felt his sweaty, trembling palms as he piled the earth back over the jewels. I could see him walk quickly, trying to keep casual and nonchalant as he hurriedly made plans in his mind. I could feel his restlessness and desperation to finally be able to claim the treasure as his own!

But first: he must sell everything he has.

I really don’t think there was the slightest hesitation in this man’s mind as he immediately rushed out, sold everything he had, and bought that piece of land. You see, the treasure was worth so much more than everything he had before. Jesus said, “in his joy he went and sold all he had…” There was no fear, no hesitation, no clinging to his past possessions. All he could think about was that treasure he had found!

So, what does this mean for me? For you?

When I asked the Lord to reveal himself to me, I realize now I was just being lazy. I wanted to just feel his presence and then I would get up and be a good Christian and follow him. But Jesus’ parable shows an example of a man who caught a glimpse of this amazing treasure, and sold everything he had in order to get it! If I really want a close relationship with God, if I really want to know his presence in my life, I need to be willing to sell everything I have… give up my own plans, my own time, my own agenda, and really seek Him. He is that treasure! He is worth more than everything I have right now, and He is DEFINITELY worth selling everything I have in order to know Him.

May God show you and I today that He Himself is that treasure, the joy above all joy, the excitement above all excitement, and the most valuable thing of all!

And the greatest thing is…He is ready and waiting for us to uncover such an incredible treasure!