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I was up very late the other night. I couldn’t sleep, so I prayed for a while for my family and for those I know who are going through hard things: sickness, wounds, disease, and troubles.
I spent time on forgiveness, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal places in my heart where I still harbored resentment or unforgiveness.
Then, I felt my spirit in praise and worship to YaHWaH.
At the end of this precious time, I was reminded of the parables of the Kingdom/Reign of Heaven as taught by Yeshua.
Matthew 13:44“Again, the reign of the heavens is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man having found it, hid, and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. TS-2009
Matthew 13:44“Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. NKJV
Something about this verse struck me in a new way, and I found myself reasoning out loud in the darkness of my room:
A man was walking on someone else’s field. He found a treasure. Did he dig it up? Was he looking for treasure when he found it?
The treasure was on someone else’s land. Why was he walking on someone else’s land? What right did he have to hide the treasure when he found it? Why didn’t he notify the owner of the land about the treasure?
The man could have just taken the treasure, and nobody would have known; in this modern day and age, that’s what many would have done. But he had a conscience toward the land owner, so he sold everything he had to buy that field.
Still, even this seemed a bit shady to me because he knew the treasure was precious but didn’t declare the treasure when purchasing the land.
Was he justified because he made it even by selling everything he had? We read that he purchased the land to gain the hidden treasure.
Did he give more than the value of the land to purchase it so that he would have a clear conscience? But how would his conscience be clear if he got the land under pretenses?
What did the man do with the treasure? How did he spend it?
I began to feel like I had tapped into a paradox, and I began to explore what I thought was a conundrum:
Could the Lord have advocated taking something valuable as long as we set the highest price for ourselves in the purchase, even if we don’t disclose to the seller our secret knowledge of hidden treasure worth far more than the price of the land? Would Yeshua encourage something that seemed immoral?
The answer is found all through His Word, and when I apply what I know of His character and nature, the answer is a resounding NO!
There is nothing dark and sneaky about the Lord God; he does not need to do thievery to get what He wants. The Lord is Light, and there is no darkness in Him. He cannot sin. He cannot lie. Therefore, I reasoned that I must have been skipping or missing something.
My tired mind began to bog down, and at 3:00 a.m., finally, I had to postpone my internal discussion to look at this problem again in the light of day.
I thought about it a bit more yesterday as I was running errands. But I got so busy that I forgot about it when I got home and only remembered today. Right off the bat, I saw the problem in my reasoning; this was not a news report in the Jerusalem Gazette; it was a parable of Yeshua!
What is a parable?
par·a·ble
/ˈperəb(ə)l/ noun
a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.
Here was where my error originated:
I have spent so much time curating news about current events and working in the survivor community that it has become routine for me to collect facts and dates surrounding events. I forgot to switch modes as I considered Yeshua’s words, and it caused me to put the focus on all of the wrong elements of His story.
The truth of Yeshua’s parable cannot be arrived at by examining the “facts.” He meant to focus our attention on the worth of the Kingdom/Reign of Heaven! The treasure is the Kingdom, and the man’s action in the parable is to sell all he has to obtain it. The worth of the Kingdom is such that Yeshua wanted us to understand it is worth losing, selling, and giving all we own to get it.
Does this mean we literally have to sell everything to get into the Kingdom?
No.
Remember, this is a parable. The point was to demonstrate how precious and essential the Kingdom of Heaven is to us. There is nothing of more excellent value in this world besides ourselves (we are made in the image of our Heavenly Father).
And yes.
Consider this story about Yeshua and the rich young ruler.
Matthew 19:16-30 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (17) So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (18) He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,’ ‘YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ (19) ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,’ and, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ “ (20) The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” (21) Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (23) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven. (24) And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” (25) When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” (26) But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (27) Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” (28) So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (30) But many who are first will be last, and the last first. NKJV
Yeshua told the rich young ruler to go and sell all that he had and to come and follow Him. That man was nearly perfect, but Yeshua saw straight into his heart and knew that his wealth and position were significant to him—and could keep him separated from God. Yeshua gave him a prescription to heal the sickness in his heart, but the young man could not accept it, so he went away sad.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) “For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also. TS-2009
The message Yeshua brings is for us to put our minds on His Kingdom so that it becomes the most precious thing we can obtain. When we do this, we will be willing to pay whatever price is necessary to secure it.
For each of us, this price will be something different.
Forty+ years ago, I was pregnant with my third child. As a music minister, I often traveled around Southern California, performing concerts in various churches, coffee houses, and other venues. I was the music director of my local church and had somewhat of a “name.” I have composed and performed over 150 songs, playing them on guitar or piano and sometimes in the company of a small music group. People knew my music and would often sing it with me. It seemed like I was destined for larger audiences. Twice, I sang in front of audiences of 5,000+ people, and I loved to share the Gospel as I ministered to people. I wasn’t in it for the money, but I was on fire to share Yeshua with the lost.
Shortly before the birth of my son, I received an offer from a “Christian” company to make a record. I shared this with my pastor. He told me he thought I should remain home and concentrate on my family. As I brought this before the Lord, the Lord clearly told me I should not accept the record deal. So I declined it.
As I sought the Lord on this, He was even more specific. He told me this would not be anything He ever wanted me to do. As always, it was okay to sing out in various places. It was okay to share my music in my own way. It was not okay to sign a contract and place myself in the hands of a company. Period.
My heart was sad for a while. I received another offer shortly after this and did not even bother to ask the Lord again; I knew His answer. I obeyed. Others who wished to see me excel and reach a wider audience doubted my ability to hear the Lord. It was distressing to me, but those who know my testimony know that I have been hearing from Him since I was seven. I knew His voice then as I do now.
It would be many years until I understood some of the “why” of God’s instructions for me. When I did, I realized His mercy in not allowing me to become “famous” or to sign recording contracts. I had seen so many Christian artists—whom I knew—crash and burn and fall into the ways of the world, compromising the truth for just a little darkness so they “fit in.” The merciful Elohim knew I would have enough trouble and need rescuing from it; I didn’t need the extra complications and personal bondage that would come from pursuing the use of His gifts in the world’s ways and means.
Then, when I began my healing journey a dozen years or so ago, I understood that because since I was a child, I was a multiple who had suffered trauma, abuse, and mind control at the hands of people who had plans for my use; I would have fallen in a ditch if I got tied up in that scheming music industry (there is no such thing as a Christian company). It would have significantly prevented me from walking His paths toward His Kingdom. God spared me from all of that.
For the rich young ruler, his possessions were a stumbling block. For me, it could have been my God-given musical and lyrical talents. For someone else, it might be an addiction or compulsion that they cannot let go of. We must search our hearts before God and ask Him what holds us back from seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Although Paul is speaking in the context of food that is clean or unclean, still this line of verse stands on its own concerning the Kingdom of Elohim:
Romans 14:17 For the reign of Elohim is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Set-apart Spirit. TS-2009
Romans 14:17 for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. NKJV
And this sums up our search for what will last and what has the most value. The man in the parable knows that the treasure (representing the Kingdom/Reign of Elohim/God) is worth more than everything he owns. He is willing to dispose of, sell, give away, or release everything that is his (all earthly treasure) to gain the riches of that treasure.
It’s easy to get caught up looking at things from a secular point of view, and of course, the things of this world require a certain amount of attention.
But we must remember who rules this world currently, and it must not be our singular goal to attain all of its riches because our Heavenly Abba has prepared something for us that the enemy can never steal, will never rust or corrupt, and will be ours for eternity.
As you think about this, can you identify something that is keeping you from seeking the Kingdom/Reign of Elohim?
Have you had an experience wherein Yeshua showed you what stood in the way of seeking His Kingdom?
Has the Lord ever asked you to give up something standing between you and His Kingdom?
If you are comfortable, please feel free to comment and share.
May the Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit give us wisdom, understanding, clarity, and the strength to choose Him and His Kingdom.
Shalom shalom,
Pastora Cate Covert