The Greatest Treasure

Hello Brothers,

What is the most valuable thing that you own? Who or what is priceless to you? Everyone has something and/or someone they treasure highly. There is nothing wrong with that as long as Jesus Christ is your greatest treasure. Our Lord and Savior says that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13:44).

The kingdom of heaven is the rule and reign of God through Jesus Christ over all nations, principalities, sin, death, life and the ages to come. In Ephesians 1:15-23, it says that when God raised Jesus from the dead He seated Christ at His right hand "in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." That is true of Jesus now. He is King now seated on His throne in the heavenly Jerusalem and all must bow their knee to Him now in repentance from sin and faith in Him as their Lord and Savior.

Jesus tells a parable, a story that illustrates truth, about a man who found treasure in a field which he found and covered up. Then this man goes and sells all he has to buy that field. The field is the truth and the treasure is Jesus Christ. Proverbs 23:23 it says to buy the truth, wisdom and understanding do not sell it. The truth is the Word of God (John 17:17) and not what but who is found in the Word is Jesus Christ our Lord (John 5:46-47; Luke 24:26-27).

Why is Jesus such a a great treasure?

Jesus is the beloved of God (Matthew 17:5); Jesus is the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:30-31); Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises (2 Corinthians 1:20); Jesus is the image of God (Colossians 1:15); and Jesus is the Gospel of God (Acts 4:11-12). Jesus is the greatest treasure. But now we must ask ourselves at what length one should go to obtain and cherish Him as the greatest treasure? How rich does Jesus truly make us if we obtain and have Him?

Jesus told another parable in connection to the field of great price. He said that the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46). In the time of Christ pearls were the equivalent of diamonds today. If you had pearls you were rich. How did people search and get pearls? You would have to free dive (no scuba masks, wetsuits, or breathing apparatus) in dangerous depths in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Some would even tie rocks around their bodies to scour the bottom for oysters. Pretty intense but for the riches it was worth it.

Jesus compares Himself to these pearls and even points out that He is infinitely a greater treasure than any precious gem. Why is that true? Jesus is the sustainer of life (John 6:35); Jesus is the light of life (John 8:12); Jesus is the gatekeeper to life (John 10:7); Jesus the protector of life (John 10:11); Jesus is the way to life (John 14:6); Jesus is the source of life (John 15:1) and Jesus is the resurrection and life, everlasting life (John 11:25).

Jesus is an endless fortune, the prize of heaven and the glory of God. Without Him we have nothing. How can you obtain Jesus as your greatest treasure? You must receive Him by faith alone as your Lord and Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation in Christ is the free grace of God for all types of sinners.

Here is the thing, salvation is free but it will cost you repentance from sin. That means all the lesser treasures must take a back seat or, even thrown totally out of the car if God through His word calls it sin, to obtain the greatest treasure. All other things that we treasure above Jesus Christ is not a treasure at all it is holding us back and blinding us from the true and greatest treasure Jesus Christ.

If you have Jesus Christ by faith be reminded to cherish Him above all other things and persons for He is the true source of life, joy, peace and He is all we need. May Jesus Christ forever be our greatest treasure!

"God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing" (C.S. Lewis).

"Jesus Christ is the center of everything and the object of everything, and he who does not know Him knows nothing of the order nature and nothing of himself" (Blaise Pascal).

“Jesus is the cornerstone of humanity. If He were taken away, it would shake the world to its foundations” (Ernest Renan).

"The enjoyment of God [through Jesus Christ] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams but God is the ocean" (Jonathan Edwards).

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Sterling Brown

Westminster Presbytery Stated Clerk