The Treasure

"The treasure is You, there's no other

The treasure is You, more than gold

Heaven and earth, they have lost their luster

You alone are the treasure that I hold."

[Meredith Andrews]

The lyrics of this song by Meredith Andrews have been running through my mind lately, after reading a challenging chapter of Radical with my small group a few weeks ago.  Jesus is our treasure, the greatest treasure we could ever find!  Are we worth giving up everything else to pursue that treasure?

I wrote this little modern-day parable to share with the middle schoolers at our Monday morning devotions called "matins."  Several students acted it out as I read aloud.  I'm praying that we are all reminded of its truth this week!

The Parable of a Man Named Joe

(A Modern Day Version of Matthew 13:44)

Matthew 13:44 "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."

There once was a man named Joe.  He was out for a walk one sunny day with his dog, Bailey.  He let Bailey off her leash to run freely in the field.  This was their favorite place to come and play.  When he wanted to get away from the demands of work and finances and other responsibilities, this was where he would come.  He could just relax and breathe in the fresh air.

A scratching sound jolted Joe out of his dreamlike state.  There was Bailey, intently scratching at the ground.  

"What are you doing there, Bailey?"  Joe questioned as he jogged over to the busy canine.  He pulled Bailey away from the spot to reveal a box in a shallow hole in the ground.  "What on earth is this?"  He wondered aloud.  His curiosity got the best of him, and he tugged at the corners of the box to reveal whatever was inside.

It was almost unthinkable, unspeakable in fact.  He sat there on the ground for a minute without moving, unsure of how to respond.  The treasure inside was more than he could make in a lifetime, maybe twice that.  Bailey panted in his ear, but Joe couldn't think clearly enough to form words yet.

How many times had he jogged around this field with Bailey?  How long had this box been only a few meters away from their feet?  He couldn't ask those questions.  Not now.

Looking over his shoulder, he quickly shoved the box back into the hole and began covering it with the fresh dirt.  Bailey whimpered, as if to ask, "What are you doing?!  I just uncovered that treasure!"  Joe tossed back, "This isn't our treasure.  Not yet at least."

Joe ran into town with Bailey at his heels, millions of thoughts swarming in his mind.  But he could only entertain one:  How could he buy that field?

Joe tied Bailey up in front of the town hall and walked in.  "May I speak with Mayor Branch please?" he asked.  Without more than a nod, the secretary ushered Joe back to the mayor's office.  

"What can I do for you today, Joe?"  Mayor Branch was an old friend of Joe's.  

"Well, Hal, I was wondering about that field where I always run with Bailey, you know, down near Carter Street?"  

"Oh yes, of course I know the place.  Beautiful spot.  Great view of the sunset over the town, lots of shade from the trees.  Love that place.  What about it?"

"Um, well, who owns it?"

"Owns it?  Why, that's town land, I suppose."  The mayor typed a few things into his computer.  "Huh."

Joe waited patiently for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "What?"

"I had no idea.  There is a note here that that piece of land has been on the market for years, but no one has purchased it.  That's quite a surprise."  He read on and then gasped.  "Oh, well that explains it!  Look at this price tag!  No one could ever afford that."  Joe leaned over and his eyes widened.  It did seem a bit exorbitant.  But he knew why.

And as Joe walked out of the town hall, thanking Hal as he went, he knew.  He knew what he wanted to do.  Because he had found the treasure.

Over the next few days, Joe set out to sell everything he owned.  He met with his realtor to put his home on the market.  She kept asking him if he was really sure what he was doing, but he assured her that he had found something better.  Joe met with the stock broker to sell all shares of his stocks, and even quit his high-paying job downtown.  He went on ebay to sell his books, household items, appliances, electronics, and clothes.  What wouldn't sell there, Joe bagged up and took to the thrift shop.

"Joe!" Stan called out.  "Good to see you!  What are you doing here?"  Joe explained that he was downsizing, although he didn't go into the details.  Still, Stan shook his head in disbelief as he saw what Joe had brought in the bags, full to overflowing.  Joe left the bags at Stan's feet because he knew.  He knew what he wanted to do.  Because he had found treasure.

Finally, with nothing but Bailey to his name, he walked back to the town hall with his head held high.  Because he knew.

"Hal, I'm back."  Joe said, as he handed an envelope to Hal.  

"What's this?"  Hal asked.  And then he looked inside.  "What on earth?  Did you sell everything you own?"  Hal said, mockingly.  When he saw Joe nod his head seriously, he sputtered, "Oh my word, you did, didn't you?  Are you crazy?  I mean, that land is beautiful, but it's… land.  You're leaving behind the security of a house, a retirement plan, everything that lets you live a normal life!  You're comfortable where you are.  Why in the world would you give it all up?"

Joe nodded his head in understanding.  Because he knew.  He knew that others wouldn't understand.  They didn't know about the treasure.  Once that field was his, the treasure would be his.  And all that he was leaving behind, all of the sacrifice, all of the "stuff" was worth nothing compared to that field, compared to that immense treasure that he and Bailey had found buried in the dirt.

As crazy as it seemed, he was confident of this:  It was worth abandoning EVERYTHING ELSE to find that TREASURE.