Ancient Stories for Modern Life V
A. Background & Comments:
• through this summer season we have been considering the parables of Jesus Christ as they are presented in Matthew Ch. 13:1-52. In these times together we have seen:
The Parable of the Sower (vs. 3-9; 18-23)
- we receive the Word of God in different ways!
The Parable of the Weeds (vs. 24-30; 36-43)
- a day of judgment awaits imposters of the faith.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (vs. 31,32)
- we have potential to possess greater faith & hope.
The Parable of the Yeast (vs. 33)
- the Kingdom invades every part of life (vs. 33)
• these teachings are especially valuable because Jesus Christ is teaching “Kingdom” principles. Each parable starts with the words, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”, indicating that there is an entity & behavior for the individual Christian to strive toward of greater value than ourselves.
• please understand that we are not talking primarily about the organized church as the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. While the church is part of the Kingdom of God, the church is full of broken sinners, whose values & behaviors follow suit. The Kingdom of God is perfect & holy – unlike the church – as much as we might try.
Christians often make the mistake of thinking that, “…what’s good for the church must be good for God.”
This well-intentioned thought misunderstands that the organization is not always motivated by Kingdom principles.
B. Main Thought:
The passage we consider today speaks to the issue of the value of the Kingdom of God in the life of the Christian. This Kingdom’s interests, outranks any other “kingdoms” in our lives, including that of the church.
We must first take some time to define & discern…
I. (vs. 44) The Parable of the Hidden Treasure: Presented & Explained
“ The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it (the treasure), he hid it again, and then in joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. ”
A. The Basics of the Story:
a treasure is found by a man traversing in a field;
after the discovery, the man hides the treasure, hoping it won’t be found by another, due to its great worth;
subsequently, the man buys the field because he desires the exclusive rights to the field & its contents;
B. Explanations & Implications Regarding “The Kingdom”:
The Kingdom is of unsurpassed value, merit & desire: it may come as a surprise to those who find it;
The Kingdom compels us to give up other investments so that we can give ourselves totally to it;
The Kingdom does require response & action on the part of a person who finds the treasure.
The person who truly finds the treasure of the Kingdom will desire to get more of it!
II. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure: The Real Value of Christ’s Kingdom
Other Scripture passages give us further enlightenment as to the nature of Christ’s Kingdom & the real value for those believe & follow:
A. The Past – Relief & Refuge (Col. 1:13)
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…”
• there will always be people who live in the past, dwelling on the “couldas & shouldas” of life. The first evidence of the Kingdom of God in our lives is found in the ability to let go of the condemnations of the past. The Kingdom of God is all about letting go of the past, accepting Christ’s forgiveness & recognizing that we are part of a much better state. Really, you can “move on” with this truth as core to who you are!
B. The Present – Improved Living Conditions (Rom. 14:17)
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…”
• the second evidence of God’s Kingdom in your life is a change of perspective that allows you to appreciate your “improved living conditions”. Although many in our society focus everything on their personal or the collective economy, the bottom line of spiritual health is the recognition that with Christ I am better off than I was without him.
Pause for a moment and consider life before…
C. The Future – Better Destination (I Cor. 15:22-26)
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
• the last piece of evidence regarding Christ’s Kingdom is the recognition that the future is a whole lot better with Christ than without him. As sure as we are standing here, we must recognize that there is a day coming when we, as believers in Christ & his kingdom, will see the ultimate fulfillment of faith: Jesus Christ, personally.
Implications
When opportunities of service come into your life remember your first impulse: I am serving the kingdom of God. People who understand this truth don’t complain about their role in the church nor seek power over others.
When you understand how valuable the Kingdom is to Christ, then relationships with other Christians – even of a different stripe than ourselves – will become of more value. Some people will constantly feel the need to lift their owndenomination or culture up over others. That isn’t Kingdom thinking…
