Church in hard places part 1
Have you ever lost or misplaced something? What response did you have? Do you search everywhere?
Americans spend on average 2.5 days a year looking for lost items
Americans spend $2.7 Billion dollars a year replacing misplaced possessions.
The most common items lost at least once a week:
#6 Wallet and or purse
#5 Shoes
#4 Glasses
#3 Keys
#2 Phone
#1 Remotes
60% of people say they have been late to school or work because of a lost item.
Most common place lost items are found:
#5 Left in car
#4 Under bed
#3 Pockets
#2 Couch
#1 Purse or bags
A lost items value will determine the intensity of the search.
Value is important because it dictates a lot of things in our life. Value determines relationships, finances, careers, and families. How you value things will ultimately shape your life.
Jesus tells us a parable in Matthew 13. Matthew includes seven parables, one after another, focused on the kingdom of God. Parables were illustrated stories to communicate a greater principle. But in actuality, like any story, they are more like riddles or analogies that admit different interpretations.
Matthew 13:3 “ A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables”
Matthew 13:44-46 NIV "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. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
In this story Jesus wants us to understand value.
If we step back and look at this story in context there are a couple perspectives I want us to examine.
1. We see that Jesus is the man in the story. He seeks after us and when he finds us he gives his life for you and I.
If the treasure is lost it’s not really beneficial, although it is still considered valuable. Although we were lost we were considered valuable in God’s eyes still. That’s why he sent Jesus!
Jesus sees our true value and gives up everything to uncover and reclaim us.
Deuteronomy 7:6 NRSV For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT [18] For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. [19] It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
Commentators say this story would have been relatable to those in jewish & roman culture.
No banks so people would bury their treasures to keep safe.
Many times those people would pass away and never go back and claim the treasures.
So it was common for people to find buried treasure.
But many historians believe in this story it was not a box of money or precious jewels. If it would have been a box of treasure the man would have removed it and taken the treasure. However because he hid it again and went and purchased the land, it implies that this may have been precious gems, gold, or a cave of stones.
This value would have been far greater than a box of money and would have given the man a yield of gain far greater. This discovery would have given the man a lifetime of treasures, however he would have to unearth them.
2. We see the joy in the discovery prompted a response to find more.
At first glance there seems to be just an empty field. A field is something we take for granted. We pass by them all the time, and we give almost no thought to what’s inside.
Jesus invites us to join him in discovering and uncovering the lost and hidden treasures in our city and beyond.
The kingdom of heaven is a call to excavate.
Matthew 28:18-20 ”Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Luke 19:10 “Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Everyone of us have fields ready to be excavated, there are people Jesus wants to uncover and reclaim. Are we ready to get dirty? Are you ready to dig and discover?