Tag: hidden treasures

33. “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”

 

Matthew 13:44  “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. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 

 Proverbs 2:2-5     making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

 Romans 15:4     For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 Proverbs 17:16     Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

 Philippians 3:7-9   But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

 Revelation 3:18     I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

In the first parable, the field is the world and the treasure is each and every believer to come. Jesus gave everything to redeem the whole world to preserve the treasure in it – Those who would believe, trust, honor, follow, and obey Him. 

In the second parable, Jesus is the buyer for the kingdom of heaven and the pearl is the individual believer that He sees so valuable that He freely and happily would give His all to have them forever.  (Guzik)

Scripture is also clear on the responsibility of all mankind to likewise search, seek, and desire God like a great treasure of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, gold, silver, and bread and water to a starving and thirsty soul. The world and its troubles and pleasures can and do have an influence on the hearts of people. It can blind their eyes and deafen their ears to things of God. When God and things of God get pushed down and buried under the things of this world there is still hope for the person who at their depth of despair would humble themselves and call on God. He is ever calling out to the lost who have wondered aimlessly apart from truth, hope, and faith in Him. To some, it is if this treasure of God is deemed worthless and even when they see it they cast it aside. To others, it is such great worth that they willingly and intentionally choose it above all things this world has to offer. They humbly surrender selfish desire and hope to gain eternity in heaven. They gladly discard the promises this world has to offer to gain joy, peace, rest, refuge, power, strength, courage, hope, faith, and love that only God can give.

28.l “Powers of discernment trained by constant practice”

Philippians 3:15  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

 Romans 15:1     We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

 Hebrews 5:14   But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

 1 Corinthians 14:20  Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

 Galatians 5:10   I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.

 Psalms 25:8-9    Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

 Proverbs 2:3-6   yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

 James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Mature, strong, trained, confident, humble, and with constant practice able to distinguish good from evil are all words used to convey the importance of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in the life of a Christian. Have you ever heard a child say, “I can do it myself”, or “I want to do it myself”, for a task that is beyond their ability to do?  They are not physically mature enough to execute what they want to do.  They are more than willing to try but not mature enough to know their limitations.  The opposite is true as well when you hear a child say, “I can’t do it”, “I won’t even try to do it”, for tasks that are well within their ability to do them.  They are physically able but mentally they are not mature enough.  

Being strong means that a person has the physical and mental ability combined with maturity so that they are able to stand up to obstacles and opposition.  An immature person will think they have the strength (they do not have) for a task they are facing. They will go headlong into a mental or physical battle for which they are not strong enough to overcome.  Others use their strength for very immature things. Having physical and mental strength but lacking mature wisdom, knowledge, and understanding is what you see in the world.  These are those who shun God, reject Jesus Christ, and live in self-reliance and self-confidence. There is no surrender, humility, or acknowledgment of God.  As Christians, we are tempted to think we are stronger and more mature than we are.  When this happens we start relying on ourselves rather than the strength of the Holy Spirit. When we rely on ourselves we become self-reliant and self-confident which is neither humble nor surrendered.  

We need constant practice at doing what is right, good, and true.  This is what yields maturity.  How do we put into practice that which we have chosen to neglect? How do we become strong in things of God when all we practice day in and day out are things of this world?  We can be very mature in things of this world and even be seen as having wisdom, worldly speaking, but in the things of God we are immature, weak, and void of Godly wisdom and strength.  It is sad to see those who are years into being a born-again Christian acting, speaking, and thinking like infants.  

It is in humble surrendered reliance in God with heart deep desire and seeking His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that we will find the path that waters our souls and matures our thoughts, speech, and actions.

4.d. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

Nehemiah 8:13  On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.

Proverbs 2:1-6    My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding.  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 8:33-34   Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

Mark 6:33-34    When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Blessed is the one who listens.  I wonder if we truly cherish God’s word.  Are we inching our hearts to understanding?  Are our ears attentive? Are we calling out for understanding?  Are we seeking God’s word for hidden treasures?  Do we hear instruction? Are we watching and waiting to hear and be led? God’s compassion, grace, mercy, purpose, plan, and love are revealed to those who seek it.  It is one thing to desire and seek God’s word and another to just be exposed to it.  There is a difference.  Exposure is not necessarily something that is desired but rather something that just happens.  If we take this approach to God’s word there is no effort, no commitment, no longing, no searching for it like a hidden treasure.

Now is a good time to examine our heart, mind, and soul to see if we are searching God’s word for hidden treasures or are content with complacent exposure.