Finding the Real Treasure (2)

Matthew 13:44-46

If you knew 3-4 years ago that Google shares would be a very good investment for the future, what would you have done?

Imagine Steve Jobs telling you about a project he was working on called “Apple computers” and asking you to invest in it. What would you do? Is this the right kind of investment?

Last year I preached a sermon called “Investment in ‘Kingdom Jones.’” Jesus is telling his audience one clear point. The man who was working in the field found an unexpected treasure. He risked everything, he convinced his family to sell everything in order to get this precious land, or in the second story, the precious pearl. Jesus is saying there is something more valuable than whatever you own. What is the thing that is more valuable than whatever you own? That new treasure is the Kingdom of God: Investing in Jesus Christ the Son of God, investing in Jesus Christ who brought salvation and freedom from sin.

You know the Good News is that Jesus Christ on already paid for that “land” on the cross. The land with the treasure is given to us, it is grace; it is costly grace; it is free. The price was paid by Jesus himself.

What is our part? Accept that gift and make Jesus Christ your King, your Lord, your priority.

Let me give you and example from the Bible. Paul who was a man of power, prestige, put everything behind and found the treasure. ⁷But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philipp. 3:6-7)

Missionary Jim Elliot said:

“He is no fool – Who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Are you surprised? If this is stewardship Sunday, Badveli, why are you not talking about money, “Church economy”?

Brothers and sisters, we are talking about more than money and church economy. What is the use of balancing the church budget, but losing our souls? The GREATEST TREASURE we can have is our RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. Once we have our heart in the right relationship then giving to the Lord is the fruit of that precious relationship.

In the Bible, we read 38 parables of Jesus, 16 of which talk about money. There are 500 verses about prayer and faith, but 2000 verses about dealing with money.

Why? Why all these verses?

Your heart is where your treasure is.

Giving to the Lord should come out of joy and love, not as an obligation. The man loved that land and did everything joyfully to have the land.

I have children. I do everything to provide for them the shelter, protection, and education. I do things not as an obligation, but out of love. I love them.

I feel sometimes when the time arrives for the offering we give to God as a duty and as an obligation. There is a lack of joy in giving, why? Because sometimes we do not give with our whole hearts.

Someone said, “You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.”

I have been in situations where I have given out of obligation. The best giving is when you give it from your heart. The parable that Jesus told is about a man who sold everything, not out of obligation, no, but out of love; he knew he found THE TREASURE. When I speak about tithes, it means giving out of love.

In 2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul writes, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

How do you decide how to give to the Lord? Do you give to the Lord when you have paid all the bills and, and if you have anything left?

Do you think God needs you income?

God is the provider. He is the creator, and let us remind ourselves, we are His creatures.

Let me give you an example from Moses and the Israelites.

When the Israelites were in the desert wondering, God provided food when they were hungry and water when they were thirsty.

Later when the Tabernacle was built, God asked the Israelites to provide material for the Tabernacle.

God could do anything without them, yet He taught them to be partners in providing. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

When we tithe, when we give to the Lord, we are partner with God. We are learning to take our responsibility with God.

So let us give to the Lord with Joy.

Why? Because we honor him. We are giving to the Lord, not anyone, but to then Lord.

We give with joy, because we love Him.

We give with joy because God honored us and made us his partners. What an honor to be servants of our Lord. What an honor to be His “hands and feet.”

Do you remember the story of little Mike that Marge Damir told you in her testimony? I shared that story in our newsletter, the Messenger. When he described God to his friend, little Mike said, “God does not look like me; he does not have teeth.” Then Mike said something important what he learned from VBS. He said, “God is strong; God is real except you cannot see Him...”

A few months later, Mike was visiting his grandparents Bob and Marge who gave him Cheorag, an Armenian pastry. Mike ate some and loved it. Marge, who was watching, came and told Mike that these wonderful Cheorags were made by Papa (Grandpa).

Mike went to his grandpa and asked, “Did you make these Cheorags, Papa?”

Bob said, “Yeah, I made them. I put them together; God made the wheat, then the flour. God made the cow and the milk. I just took them and mixed them together.”

There was a moment of silence.

Then Mike said, “But Papa, God made your hands, so you can bake the Cheorag.”

That is it. Mike understood that we have an important role in being partners with God by using “our hands.” We are partners with God. He is the maker of everything; we are just obeying His commandments and trusting Him in our giving. He made our hands, so we can give and serve.

Did you find the real treasure?

Amen