Luciano Faggiano bought a building to house his new restaurant venture. Unfortunately, sewage kept backing up through a toilet. So he and his sons began digging a trench in order to find the broken sewage pipe. After a week, they couldn’t find the problem. Frustration with the project quickly turned into excitement, however, when they unearthed an archaeological treasure. The men discovered an underground world of rooms, including tombs, a Franciscan chapel, and many other artifacts—some that predated Jesus. Oh, and eventually they did manage to fix the broken sewage pipe!
This story reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the hidden treasure found in Matthew 13. In the parable, a man discovers a hidden treasure in a field, buries it again, and then sells everything in order to purchase the field (Matthew 13:44). Faggiano was determined to find the sewage pipe, but after he found treasure, he put all of his energy into searching for more. It took time and concentration. It was his priority.
After telling the tale of the hidden treasure, Jesus then shared this parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” (Matthew 13:45-46).
The man who found the treasure in a field and the pearl merchant provide examples of what it means for us to seek Jesus and His kingdom (Matthew 6:33). We’re to be single-eyed, passionately loving Him and pouring out His love on others. That focus will determine our priorities. It will take time, energy, and concentration—all that we are.
God loves us with a single-eyed, perfect love. May we return that love with our own!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Kings 1:28-53
More:
Read Luke 9:51. It says that Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Think about the implications of Jesus’ resolution to be obedient. What implications did that have for Him?
Next:
In what areas of your life do you need to “sell all,” to be resolute in seeking the kingdom? How does God’s love for you inspire your love for Him?
Gary Shultz on April 12, 2016 at 6:18 am
The giving of our life is certainly worth the promise of what is to come. And we still have the “sight problem” that many had in Christ’s day; not wanting to look beyond what was on the surface…..
We pursue something we can’t see, we trust in what we have found in Christ to what Christ has promised. The closer we become to Christ the clearer the treasure. We then enjoy the dig and the journey, whatever it holds because the One who loves us has in store treasure beyond what our minds can imagine. Yes, our eyes more affixed to what is before us the pace quickens and the One who is waiting seems closer and dearer to us. Was it not with wisdom God has set a treasure to anticipate? Thanks Marlena, we are rich!
Marlena Graves on April 12, 2016 at 8:31 am
“The closer we become to Christ the clearer the treasure.” Love this. You are right! I pray that I too would be able to see Christ my treasure even better. Seeing clearly puts everything in perspective!
gagirllive on April 12, 2016 at 7:40 am
Marlena, this makes me think of what David said in Psalm 27…”One thing I have desired and that will I seek…” That is the singleness of heart and mind of a treasure-seeker–face set like flint. When Christ Himself became my greatest desire, the lesser loves of my life took their proper secondary places. This is something that I have to fight for everyday, however. Distractions are ever present. Also, as your second “Next” question implicates, I can definitely see the direct correlation between my understanding and trust in God’s love for me and my love for Him. We really do love because He first loved us. It is awesome to me that God pours into us the love we need to respond to His own love for us. Always the initiator, He awakens us to His love which enables us to respond likewise. That’s why I can’t let my eyes stray from the gospel–God’s greatest demonstration and declaration of His love for me. Thanks for encouraging us today to keep our eyes on the Prize, Marlena. A blessed day to you!
Marlena Graves on April 12, 2016 at 8:33 am
A blessed day to you, too! We can all get distracted. I found myself recently distracted because God didn’t answer a prayer in the way I wanted. He asked, “Do you still trust me?” I had to redirect my gaze. My prize is not an answer to prayer, it is Christ!
gagirllive on April 12, 2016 at 9:10 am
Amen!…Wanting His face more than His hand!
jim spillane on April 12, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Marlena – as it relates to a “single-eyed focus,” I wonder if it’s not only “seek first the kingdom of God,” but also the fact that if we come closer to God, He will come closer to us. We seem to get more back from Him and our blessings are multiplied. My pastor once told me that “God is more than willing to help you become as holy as you want to be.” In this case, it’s us who set the limits, not God. And in response to your distracted prayer comment above, I read a rather unique perspective this morning that stated, “don’t think of prayer as trying to overcome God’s reluctance to do something, but think of it as grasping hold of His willingness to do it.” Blessings to you and to all who come to this forum.
Tom Felten on April 12, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Marlena, what a great illustration! Yes, as God gives us the strength to persevere and keep following Him through life’s challenges, a faith that is “far more precious than mere gold” (1 Peter 1:7) is being refined. Let’s keep digging by His power!