The Kingdom of Heaven is the Standard of Treasure!

At first glance, this looks like a rock. It is a hard object that is the same general color of dirt, it sinks in water and it does not burn like rock, but this is wood, petrified wood. Petrified wood occurs when a tree is buried in mineral rich water and the wood material is replace with minerals over time. Often this process is described as taking place over a very long period of time, but those who are wise will remember that the earth was covered in water creating a unique environment that sped up many processes otherwise described as being very slow. Those who understand what a piece of petrified wood is will treasure it when they find it.

Each person’s standard of treasure is different. A standard is an accepted measurement or value. For example, if you want to know what a standard inch or food is, you can look at a ruler. Or if you want to know what a standard 10 lbs. feels like, then you can go to the gym and pick up a 10 lbs. weight. A treasure is something that is considered valuable. Each person’s standard of treasure is different because we all value things differently. Now there are some things that most people agree is valuable like gold or quality time with family, but there are other things that people debate the value of like a $5,000 purse versus a $5,000 set of golf clubs. In our Old Testament reading from 1 Kings 3, the young and newly appointed King of Israel, Solomon, treasured wisdom. When King David was about to die, he appointed Solomon to be Israel’s next King. After being appointed King, God appeared to Solomon in a dream telling him to ask for whatever he wanted from him. Solomon answered,

9 … “give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

Solomon understood the value of wisdom, and God was pleased to give it to him.

Jesus shared wisdom as he taught people to treasure the kingdom of heaven. Whether he stood before rulers or regular folks, Jesus taught the value of the kingdom of heaven. In our Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus used two parables to teach the value of the kingdom of heaven. First, he said,

44 “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. Then, he said, 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

With these parables, Jesus defined treasure as what you would give up everything else to have; it is the thing to which you attribute the most value. And the standard of treasure, the thing a wise person would trade everything else for because it is the most valuable is the kingdom of heaven. Luther’s Catechism sums up what the Bible teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God with this definition, “Christ’s rule in our hearts through his Word.” Your citizenship in the kingdom of heaven is the greatest treasure, but you do not always treasure it that way.

In Jesus’ next parable, he taught the danger of not treasuring the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 13, Jesus said,

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In this parable, Jesus takes us to Judgment Day when those who treasured the kingdom of heaven are separated from those who did not. When this world ends, the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. The wicked who are thrown into the blazing furnace of hell were not wise, not believers and did not value the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven does not lose value, but we change all the time. Your heart can fill with so much joy singing a hymn, watching a baptism, taking the Lord’s Supper, hearing a familiar Scripture, seeing the empty cross, reading a devotion, hearing a child’s prayer, etc. Then, all the other things come up in your life that pull your attention away from God like relationships, work, school, health, bills, etc. And rather than treasure God in all these things by thanking him for them and using them with wisdom to give glory to God and help and serve others, those things become your treasures. You have stopped treasuring the kingdom of heaven when Jesus is only a treasure when you are having a bad day so that he can be your quick fix to a problem and give you back your treasured earthy peace or a name you use when things are going well so that you keep up the “Good Christian” reputation when really you want others to see how great you are and boast in the promotion, stuff, new relationship, etc. When not treasuring the kingdom of heaven becomes your normal, all you will be left with is a home in a 50 … blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Rather than be thrown out, Jesus wants you collected into the basket as a good fish. Jesus treasures you. He wants you to be in his kingdom of heaven. Throughout Scripture, we hear what Jesus did to bring you into his kingdom. In Colossians 1, we read, 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Jesus brought you into the light to see him clearly. He redeemed you with his sacrifice on the cross for all your sins. In John 3, we hear the good news that we are reborn by the power of God, 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. We do not need to worry about discovering secret knowledge or codes in Scripture or becoming wise from our own experiences and intellect. Rather, like a child owes its life to its parents, you owe your life to God’s choice to give you life, and he did that through your baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit. In John 18, Jesus assures you of the truth that although you do go through the highs and lows of life, times of plenty and poverty, you will live in a greater kingdom with the King of Kings who alone fought to save you,

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

The truth is that through Jesus, you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and will be brought to live with him in heaven for eternity fully healed, at peace and joyful.

Jesus has filled you with understanding to live as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. When Jesus finished teaching his parables, he asked, 51 “Have you understood all these things?” … “Yes,” they replied. 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” The last parable Jesus used in our Gospel reading from Matthew 13, encouraged Scripture study. Those who study Scripture become Jesus’ disciples who pull from old and new, past and present, Scripture study to apply to themselves and others. Again, the kingdom of heaven is Christ’s rule in our hearts through his Word. Through Scripture, God gives us faith in him who saved us from sin to live in heaven and who set us free from sin to live good or righteous here on earth. As Christians, we need to hear and read Scripture constantly so that we are not caught up in the world. In our New Testament reading from 1 Timothy 6, Paul encouraged the young Pastor Timothy to teach others and guard himself,

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

With hope in God, treasuring the kingdom of heaven, you are not consumed by wealth, but use it to show love for God and others. Treasure and guard the kingdom of heaven as the truth and you will grow in wisdom as great as Solomon’s. When you are reading your Bible, engaging in worship and Bible study and going to your Pastor with questions, the highs and lows of your life will not seem as extreme because the kingdom of heaven will be what your heart treasures most. When you treasure the truth that Jesus gave up his life to save you and gave you heaven, you will be content even if everything else goes away.

A petrified rock is not the standard of treasure. Christ’s rule in our hearts through his Word, the kingdom of heaven is the standard of treasure. Amen.