Truly Treasure (Matthew 13:44)

Introduction

You missed the shortest sermon I’ve ever preached at Decker Ferry. There have been several John’s going. Several of you have commented on that. I don’t know how that happened. I really didn’t plan it. It just did. I was done, and I saw I quit. If you were looking for that tonight, you have come to the wrong place. Plus, David Banning is here. And I can’t do that when David’s here. It’s good to have David and Heidi here. David, of course, has held several meetings here through the years and done a wonderful job every time he’s been here. And I respect him and Heidi a lot. Good to have them with us. He got a night off, obviously, to come over here to be with family.

Well, I’m going to assume that many of you engage in the cultural aspects of this holiday that’s called Christmas. Of course, we don’t have any New Testament passage that commands us to observe a special day for the birth of Christ. Paul preached the cross of Christ as the focal point of the whole message of the gospel. Meant to say that this morning. That would have added about 30 more seconds to that sermon. But not celebrating this day as the birth of Christ, because we really don’t know for certain when he was born, though it was probably not in December. But this is a day that many have chosen to do that. But even if you don’t do that, you still might partake in some of the cultural aspects, and I know many of you do.

And so that means either this afternoon, as some of you did, or tonight or tomorrow, there will be a gift exchange. Those families that engage in that, the children, they get excited.

What is it going to be in 2017? What is the magical gift? It’s the iPhone X. If you get the iPhone X, this Christmas will have. Or just a phone, period, I’ve heard, would do the trick for some of our young people. Echo, maybe. I have a question. Is it even possible to live life without Siri, Alexa, and Cortana? I’m not sure that you can even live life without at least one of those three electronic individuals. That apparently are all females. So maybe it’s an echo that you’re looking for this Christmas season. And it’s special to be able to give gifts to our kids, and for that excitement that comes with that. I’ll never forget my favorite time with the kids. And Brad Walker’s dad was actually involved in this.

Mark had gone out on Black Friday and stood in line in the middle of the night, and he bought several laptops. Oh, Daniel, good to see you too, Daniel and Beth. Another preacher knows. Boy, that really puts the pressure on. Back to the illustration. So Mark buys several laptops in the middle of the night on Black Friday. And I said, Brett has wanted a laptop. Now, I know they sell them like candy now, but we’re talking, remember, Brett, we’re talking well over 15 years ago. I can’t remember how old he was. He was just a kid who really didn’t need a laptop, but he thought it was the coolest thing ever. And Mark had this great deal on these laptops. And so I made a deal with Mark.

He gave it to me at his cost. What a nice guy. Even though he was out in the middle of the night while I was sleeping. And so I’ll never forget that morning. We were so excited. Brett had no idea what was coming. I don’t think he really thought it could happen. And so he starts unwrapping the package. And I wasn’t expecting this response. When he saw what it was, his immediate reaction was to start doing backwards somersaults. And he went all the way around the living room in a continuous chain of backward summers. I think he was excited about the gift he received. So if you want kids to show your parents how excited and thankful you are, or whoever might be supplying these gifts.

Okay, so that’s what you need to do. That’s what you need to do. So I’ve got to ask you this. Other than a few special occasions, do you even remember what you got last year? Maybe. How about the year before? How about five years ago? I have no doubt that we can really struggle to appreciate the value of things. I mean, we think this is something, but we have to have it. If we get this, it’s going to be a success. And then a few years later, we can’t even remember what it was that we got. We’re much like people who do this all the time, who sell things at garage sales and yard sales, or some dealer somewhere, and they give away some priceless item, something worth many times more than what they got for it because they didn’t know its value.

I think sometimes we have trouble putting the right price tags on things. Or understanding what is truly treasure?

They did this as an interesting segment for their show to help people find funds that they didn’t know that they had. And in the midst of this pursuit, they found all kinds of bank accounts that belong to people that they didn’t know they possessed. One guy in particular, a Virginia man, discovered as a result of their efforts that there was a bank account in his name to the tune of 266, and 174 dollars. Can you imagine having a quarter of a million dollars that you didn’t know you had? What about a treasure you may possess that you don’t know that you have? How about the knowledge that brings salvation and eternal life? I want to talk to you for a few moments tonight about God’s word.

And truly the treasure that it is. I got this idea for this lesson on this particular night while I was in Tampa a couple of weeks ago. Just so happens at lunch, after the morning service, I went out backstakehouse with my family, which was not far from the church building, and in walked one of my professors, one of my old professors from Florida College. In fact, some of you may have had him already, as a teacher, Thaxter Dickey. And he remembers me as a good student. His memory’s failing, obviously. But Thaxter, of course, knows my family well as they lived there. He was a co-teacher with my little sister Annetta. And so I’ve known Thaxter for a long time. As he just happened to be sitting over at the table next to us, and the amazing thing that night was I got to hear his son preach in Don Truex’s place at Temple Terrace.

And that’s a familiar text. I’m rolling it out to you all the time. The passage that talks about let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, I quoted from it this morning. Jesus has a name that is above every name, Philippians chapter 2 and verse 9. And I was just thinking as he was reading the text of what a marvel and treasure it is. And not just that text, but so many, including the entire Word of God. What a tremendous treasure it is. And I wonder if we really appreciate it. God’s word for the treasure that it is. As we were talking this morning about what Jesus, the King has done for us. As he saved us, not on the basis of deeds that we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy.

And I’ve always loved 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 9, becoming one of my favorite verses in the New Testament, if not my favorite. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake, he became poor. That you, through his poverty, might become rich. Now, that’s truly treasure. As I said this morning, it’s more valuable than a hundred thousand dollars that might be left on my doorstep that hasn’t happened yet. I’m still waiting. Or the 266,000 that the Virginia man didn’t know that he had. Or the perfect Christmas gift that sent you into backward somersaults or flitts or whatever, because you were so giddy to receive it. That electronic gadget that you couldn’t live without. Look, this is far more valuable, and yet we struggle sometimes to place the proper value on this possession that we have, the knowledge of truth.

A truth that we walk in and saves us by the grace and mercy of God. God’s word is truly treasure. You through his poverty might become rich. True lasting eternal riches. I did not realize when this thought came to me on Sunday night two weeks ago how appropriate it would be to preach this lesson after the passing of Weyland. We know how much our beloved brother and elder loved the preaching of the word. I knew he would enjoy this lesson and be glad that I preached it tonight. I want to try to lead a couple of songs that relate to the treasure that we have. Thy word is a treasure. I’m going to let Daniel take over from here.

More precious than I spine gold how my heart was written each time the story is all the mercy redeeming love in promises of my force in praise with counsel my tea God open my eyes for to see the word is me of some shall in the world and everything One more song we’re gonna sing with the Thy Word number forty nine if you want to get your book sing along with me word to my feet and a light unto my back is a lamp unto my feet and of life unto my God when I feel afraid think I am on my way still there I be nothing alive as long as you are here pleasing me to the word the land unto my being unto my life the word is the land unto my being let us not take such a rich resource for living for granted.

1. It Unlocks Creation's Mystery and Meaning

Why is God’s word such a treasure for us? And I want to give you several things, and we’ll conclude tonight. Number one, it unlocks creation’s mystery and meaning.

What is this globe all about? What is this mass of humanity that we find ourselves living in every day? And driving among to our chagrin every day. What is this mass of humanity mean? What does my temporary spot in this world? What’s it all about? What does it mean? Without the Bible, you can’t have a proper worldview or an understanding of your very purpose. We noted recently in Ephesians chapter 1 a phrase that appears three times in a section that has to do with the nature of salvation in Christ for both Jew and Gentile. And he says, to the praise of the glory of his grace. I am never more in tune with my purpose as a human being in my existence than when I’m here with you.

Or when I am worshiping God and praising him. That was what my lips were designed to do to confess the king and praise him. A proper worldview enables us to look at governments and people in power for what they are and for how temporary they truly are. Can you imagine living under the threat of the ruthless Assyrians? Or the powerful Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar. The most powerful nations of the world at that time, as they oppressed and conquered peoples to live in view of those threats. And I think of Babylon in particular as to how short-lived their power really was. About a century is all. And Nebuchadnezzar, as powerful as he was. Well, when you get a little carried away with yourself, God can take care of that.

As the seven periods of time happened to Nebuchadnezzar. And he was eating grass. So everybody gets all been out of shape. I watched some of the morning shows. The today shows, it’s not like it used to be. But anyway, I want to know what’s going on in the world. And it’s always about politics and what Trump has done now. And oh, they’re going to ruin the day, Schumer said. Oh, they’re going to ruin the day until they pass this new tax bill. I mean, I really didn’t realize corporations were paying 35% taxes, and that’s higher than any nation in the world. And that the 21% they’re now going to pay is sort of in line with the other nations of the world. And that might just generate, and I don’t mean to be political tonight, but that might just generate jobs and actually more income for our government.

But you know what? I don’t know. And I really don’t care.

I hope our economy continues to thrive. I hope this is a great idea. I hope it’s not a disaster, but it might be. I don’t know. And I don’t care. Because I’m pretty sure eight years from now, Donald Trump is not going to be the president. I’m pretty sure about that. Somebody else is going to replace him. And somebody else after that, if there is even still a president of the United States. But there’s so much hand wringing and concern. Oh, what’s going to happen to our nation? Look, it’s all temporary.

Nations only have so much power and control. In fact, if you lived in the first century, you answered to the Caesars. And yet that was not the king. The king is Jesus. The people served him. Regardless of what the Caesars decided to do, and even if the sentence of death was upon them. How valuable is it to know that your hopes are not pinned on a government, a nation or a king. We must always weigh the temporary against the eternal.

2. It Awakens Us to Greater Spiritual Realities

What God’s Word does for us, beyond helping us to see why I’m here and make meaning of the world and my purpose within it awakens us to greater spiritual realities. Again, what a tragedy if all you perceive to exist is what you see. And you are unaware of the spiritual mechanisms that we cannot see that are in actual ultimate control of what we do see. Can you imagine how awful that is if you reject the Bible as the message of your creator and you reject any notion or thought of a spiritual realm? That’s why then governments and nations and kings and people become so very important. But if you realize there is a spiritual realm and spiritual powers that far exceed any powers in the world.

How helpful is that?

And I think of 2 Kings 6 in this regard. I know Martha and I have this in common, one of our favorites. When the Assyrian army, I mean, I still am overwhelmed by the fact that they show up at a prophet’s doorstep. I mean, they’re more concerned about the prophet than the army of Israel and Elisha’s servant. Master, what are we going to do? And he said, Do not fear. For those who are with us are more than those who are with them. 2 Kings 6 and verse 16. You see what awareness of the spiritual realm did for Elisha. An army has come to his doorstep. And he tells his servant, do not fear. Then Elisha prayed and said, Oh Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.

And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes. And he saw our eyes need to be open to the greater spiritual realities. We’re not going to be as fortunate as that servant who was able to actually peer into the spiritual realm and at least see some visible representation of it. The horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Then, of course, Elisha also has the ability to boot, to strike the people with blindness through the provision of prayer. How valuable is it to be aware of the greater spiritual realities? I was thinking about this recently from 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and 5, in the context where Paul says we have this treasure in earthen vessels, but the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not of ourselves.

And he would go on to say that this earthly tent, his physical casing is very temporary, and that if it is torn down, he has an eternal home with God in the heavens. And he says, Now he who prepared us for this very purpose is God who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. But ultimately, as his children as we serve him, we have the hope of being clothed with immortality. And in the midst of this, he says this against the backdrop of his own personal struggles and trauma. We’re being delivered over to death constantly. He says, Death works in us, but life in you. He says, We’re perplexed, but not despairing. Afflicted in every way, he says in verse 8, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, carrying about in our bodies the dying of Jesus.

And it is in the midst of that context that he says, for our momentary life affliction. I always struggle with that because I get a little bit out of shape about my circumstances sometimes. I think we all do. But whatever it is that I’m dealing with is not anything close to what the Apostle Paul is dealing with when he says, our momentary light affliction. So that’s a good thing to keep in mind. And then he says, which is producing for us an eternal weight. In contrast to the light and temporary affliction. The eternal weight of glory. Which is far beyond all comparison. How helpful is it to know that? If you’re the Apostle Paul, or if you’re you and me in our times and circumstances. That our momentary light affliction is producing for us, and to have that kind of confidence is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, which is beyond all comparison.

And though the outer man is decaying, and it is.

A renewal of the Holy Spirit. The inner man is being renewed day by day. And then he says, what? You’ve heard me say it many times. For we do not look to the things which are seen. But to the things which are unseen. The things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal. And so when you see those verses in the context of Paul’s suffering, the trials, the sentence of death, and his hope of immortality. Those verses in verses 16 through 18 are really the heart of it all. The greater. Spiritual realities that fuel Paul’s transformation and work. And when we get in touch with our purpose, creation’s meaning. When we see the greater spiritual realities that exist that are far more valuable and significant than any material trinket that might appear under a tree.

3. It Clarifies How to Live Successfully

Brought to clarity. That’s a word that was in both sermons today. Did you catch that? Clarifies, brings to clarity, illuminates for us how to live successfully. A true measurement of a successful life.

Or your house.

Or the car you drive. Saw a new car this week that I sort of liked. I hate it when that happens. Don’t need a new car, not in the market for one. But we tend to measure our success in regard to those kinds of things. But the Bible clarifies how to truly live successfully, young people. And in the midst of all your pursuits, in the midst of all of your studies, in the midst of the degree that hopefully your parents think you’re going to get at some point. Remember what it means to truly live by God’s definition. To live successfully rewardingly and eternally. You know, Jesus says in those red letters that are not found anywhere in the gospel that are quoted by Paul in Acts 20 and verse 35.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Do we believe that? Have you noted when you do something sacrificial for others? Not expecting anything in return, as we talked about in Bible class this morning, when you do that sacrificial thing that helps someone else. Have you ever noticed the reward that comes with that? Not a monetary reward. Not even a pat on the back, but the pleasure it brings when you know that you assisted and helped another in the journey. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Have you experienced that? The kind of wisdom, the kind of rewarding life that we receive when we follow. What is truly treasure? What does the word do for us? It provides purpose. We find fulfillment. We survive trauma.

4. It Brings Us to Fellowship with a Perfect God

We maintain perspective. And we possess peace. How much is that worth? And finally, God’s word is such a treasure because it brings us to fellowship with a perfect God. And the ultimate relationship that exists. As Jesus said in his prayer, now this is eternal life. That they know you.

And Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. There are VIPs.

Are you a VIP? Sounds good, doesn’t it? You ever wanted to be a VIP, a very important person? When I pull up to a place and nobody notices or cares. VIP. Or maybe some other initial second. MVP. Most valuable player. Where is Drake? You ever been a most valuable player in baseball drink? Oh, yeah.

Conclusion

V I P, MVP. You know what Jesus is? He’s the MIVP. The most important, valuable player that exists. And if you know him, and you know his Father, that is indeed living. In fact, it is eternal life. So, in the midst of the treasures that have our minds occupied tonight that are temporal and earthly, I want to conclude by asking, are you partaking in the unfathomable riches of Christ? Ephesians chapter 3. What a privilege it was for Paul and for me. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given. To preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable. I noticed one translation this week that says incalculable. To preach the unfathomable, incalculable riches of Christ. And to bring to light. What is the administration of the mystery, which for ages had been hidden in God who created all things.

In order that the manifold wisdom, the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church, through the very nature of what we are in him, might be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was God’s plan from eternity. The likes of us. More about that next week. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. Do you possess such access? Are you imbibing in the unfathomable riches of Christ? And can we assist you in choosing him, submitting to him? He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. Come now while we stand safe.