150106am The Greatest Treasure [m Bushnell]

Choice Reveals Heart • Two parables – Hidden treasure – Valuable pearl

• Two Men – “tresspasser” (?) in a field – Merchant trader

• One Choice • Alternate interpretation.

The Man/Tresspasser(?) • Don’t know much about this man. • Was he trespassing? • Was he looking for the treasure? • Quite possibly taking a shortcut.

• Likely that he simply stumbled upon the treasure. • God sovereignly “caused” this man to find the treasure.

• Apostle Paul’s experience. Tripping over the “treasure” on the Damascus Road! • "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him” (Joh 6:44) • He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (Joh 6:65)

• Note - The treasure was hidden. A small thing perhaps in comparison to the whole field.

• An argument against “easy-believism”. – But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Mat 7:14 ) – "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Mat 7:21 ) – The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! (Mar 10:24 )

• His response: – Carefully considered his find. – Joy.

• He did all he could to protect and keep the treasure until he could acquire it.

• Guard what is valuable: – Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (2Ti 1:14) – Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. (2Pe 3:17) – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Pro 4:23)

• …in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. • Did all he could to acquire the treasure. • Note he bought the whole field!

The Merchant

• Was a seeker. • Knew what he was looking for.

God Rewards Seekers • "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10) • The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; (Lam 3:25 )

• And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

• Similarity between the man and the merchant: – They both realised the worth of their find and counted the cost.

• "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?...."Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? (Luke 14:28, 31)

Sold out to Jesus!! My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3) • What of the other interpretation?

What are your Choices Revealing about the Real you and your attitude to the Greatest Treasure?