In the last post we looked at the treasure as the word of God and His treasure for us being that sense we have of "fearing" Him, being in awe of Him. As both David and Solomon said "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom". It really is the fear of the Lord where we start in the beatitudes. In light of the glory of God, Who am I? This is what it means to be poor in spirit. It is when we consider the abundant riches of God that we recognize our own poverty and need for Him. Later in Matthew, Jesus told the following parable:
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
which a man found and hid;
and for the joy over it
he goes and sells all that He has and buys that field."
Matt. 13:44 NKJ
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| Carl Bloch |
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth...
(which is not lasting),
but lay up treasure in heaven... (eternal treasure)
Wherever your treasure is,
there the desires of your heart will also be...
no one can serve two masters...
you can not serve both God and money.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life...
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously,
and He will give you everything you need."
Matt. 6:19-34 NKJ and NLT
Jesus' teachings are so simple in the truth they speak of and so far reaching into our lives as we seek to live them. In our American culture steeped in the material realm, it is difficult to navigate as a Christian with a love for God and a desire to live for Him. What does that mean for my life? My lifestyle? Where is my treasure? Is it centered in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of light or in the kingdom of this age, the kingdom of darkness? Ouch! The way we live our lives and our lifestyle seems so "normal". Where is my hearts desire? Is it centered directly into the Kingdom? Or is it something really good, but not best. As Olswald Chambers says in "My Utmost for His Highest" May 25:
"As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and physically gratifying possibilities will open up before you. These things are yours by right, but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God make your choice for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the appropriate thing to consider, if you were not living the life of faith. But if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and allow God to make your choice for you. This is the discipline God uses to transform the natural into the spiritual through obedience to His voice.
When ever our right becomes the guiding factor of our lives, it dulls our spiritual insight. The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices that are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best." UT 5/25
I don't know how this plays out in your life. But I know that periodically we need to come before Him to see if we are really seeking His Kingdom first and truly living a life of faith before Him. This is such a time for me.
I hope this blesses you today. There is more treasure coming. I am in awe of the kindness of God toward us.
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