The Pearl and the Treasurer

by Peter Tuchyna April 2011

 

Matt. 13:44-46, Isa 55:1-13

It appears that one of the common themes in the conversation of many is the issue of time. We talk about how fast is time advancing and where it goes?

We make remarks that it was years ago when we met someone, done something, planned something and so on.

What is remarkable is that mankind has developed machinery, technology and many advanced processes to make our work easier, faster and more efficient.

• We do not walk any more – we drive 100 km /h

• We do not ride horses – we fly 1000 km/h

• We do not collect the wood and lite a fire – we turn the knob and we let the gas or electricity do it in seconds and minutes.

• We do not cook too long- we microwave and use pre prepared food packs.

Every part of our life is marked by technological advancements and the work is faster and easier than ever before.

• What are we doing with time we saved by letting the machines and contractors do our jobs for us?

• What are we chasing – pursuing and filling our days with?

• What is the subject of our attention – the priorities of our lives?

What do we pursue and spent our time – energy – finances and abilities on?

• If we would seek the presence of the Lord as we are seeking the success of our business, career and employments.

• If we would seek the Lord as we are pursuing the pleasure, positions, comfort and physical things.

• If our young people would seek the presence of the Lord as the fascination of their own bodies – the flesh and so on.

Then our lives would be thrilled with the fascination of the Lord like never before and our lives, our meetings, our worship would truly reflect the joy unspeakable and full of glory.

As we are diligently drilling for the oil hid in the belly of the earth,

As the gold prospector is seeking the vain of gold so the Word is revealing unto us that we must seek the Lord.

If you really want to find purpose – a thrill – a fascination – joy and happiness than we must diligently seek Him.

It will not and it does not happen by itself by waiting, by dreaming by procrastination.

God's Word makes it very clear.

I must seek Him – I must pursue Him with all I am and I have. We must never be satisfied with the status quo, where we are at right now. I cannot be satisfied with where I am at with God.

 

Companies and individuals are making a great effort in the search for things of the earth, which are considered precious like gold, silver, platinum, oil, gas and so on. In the pursuit of it they are willing to borrow monies – to purchase equipment – even to leave their families and loved ones for weeks and months at a time to work in hope that when they will find it they will make themselves happy and wealthy.

 

How much more do we need to pursue diligently the relationship and greatness with God?

 

• I want to go after God as the gold miner is seeking gold

• As the oil seeker is seeking after the oil

• As the platinum seeker is after the platinum

• As the fisherman is going after his catch

 

There is no greater thing, no greater experience and no greater purpose than to be in the will of God.

There is nothing more enjoyable than that of a life of holiness and purity.

There is nothing more peaceful.

Nothing more satisfying than having Jesus Christ residing and reigning in a life as the Saviour and the Lord.

 

For us to understand the importance of it Jesus said in Matthew 13:44 the parable about the kingdom – the parable about the treasurer in the field.

 

A labourer found the treasurer in the field.

• He did not own the treasure

• He did not own the field.

In order to have the treasurer he had to own the field so he had to buy the entire field.

 

Verse 45 is speaking about the merchant who found the goodly pearl. When he found one pearl of a great price, he was willing to sell all other pearls not matching the value and beauty of this one in order to raise enough money to buy just this one.

 

• Jesus said in this parable about the hidden treasurer and the precious pearl the way of coming to God.

 

The man was working in the field. He was tired – weary – hungry – thirsty – willing to finish the day’s work and to go home.

He was obviously tilling, ploughing the field when the plough suddenly touched something. A box, a vessel full of gold.

Suddenly he become exited. But he does something unusual. He places the box very carefully back into the dugout hole where he found it. He covers it well, he makes sure that no one would see it very easily.

Did you ever wonder why he did not take it with him and stop working right away? Why did he come back home, sell everything and go to see the landlord?

There was no law to report the find. There were old treasures hidden in the fields from the time of old.

 

The finder could keep the treasure providing that he owned the land. He did not have much but he sells everything he has and he comes to the landlord and asks.

Can I buy your land?

 

The land was not for sale in the first place. The land owner put a high price on the field but the buyer is not discouraged.

He is willing to borrow more money when he declares to the landowner, “I am willing to pay your high price for the land is very valuable to me.”

 

The man who was once ploughing the field, the man who was at one time working in another man’s field has now his own field.

 

He forgets about the field. It is not the field that draws his attention. It is not the field he was attracted to and it was not the field worth of all the investment.

 

On that field there is a treasure that is going to make him the wealthiest man there ever was.

He cannot have the treasure without the field.

He found it accidentally. He stepped on it accidentally but he recognized the value of it immediately.

Therefore he was willing to sell everything he had and obtain the invaluable.

 

Jesus by his provision lets us find the treasurer in the field and it is up to us what we will do with the discovery.

 

You cannot have the treasure belonging to somebody else’s field.

You have to purchase the field. You cannot purchase the treasure. There are no means great enough to purchase it.

You need to have your own field to get to the treasure.

The field is spiritual – not physical.

The problem is that the generation of today is physically obese but spiritually malnourished.

 

Romans 10:20 is repeating the word of Isaiah – I was found of them that sought me not.

Isaiah 55:5 ...Thou shall call a nation that thou knowest not and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee..

 

We didn’t know him – we didn’t know the treasure – we did not seek him.

God allowed us to stumble in our lives over the treasure. Some paid attention to it, some did not.

God initiates the encounter with man. God revealed himself to shepherds in the field when the baby Jesus was born. The shepherds were not looking for it.

God orchestrated it.

 

• To observe it from a far off, you will never discover the treasurer.

• Just walking on the field you will never discover it either.

• Having a picnic on it you will never discover the treasure.

 

You must start working on it – till it – plough it. The work, the labour, the plough brought it out to the surface out of the belly of the earth.

 

But while I was working in somebody’s field in Adelaide, It was Brother Holden’s field, I discovered a treasure. It belonged to the field. I couldn’t have it. I had to have my own field.

I sold everything. I mean everything. The Lord brought us to Bundaberg. Three times I left well paid jobs because they robed me of the opportunity to work in the field where the treasure was.

The Home Missions department didn’t have much finances to support a new work at that time. Our fellowship was receiving $ 200p/m when the rent was $ 700p/m. For four years we didn’t even have public liability cover.

After one year my wife was diagnosed with cancer and 3 years later she passed away.

Employment did not materialise and I had to seek the help of Centrelink.

One of my brothers offered me a job in his company with a good salary.

 

It was all too late. For I discovered a treasure and I was willing to sell everything. I did not know how much it will cost. I did not know where I would be able to raise what was needed.

While I was working in somebody’s field I discovered the treasure.

 

A relationship with Jesus is not a business, it is not property nor is it money. If any of these prevents God to have pre-eminence in my life, they must go.

I heard a man involved in ministry saying, if the air/conditioning in my car would fail I wouldn’t come to the conference. He did not find the treasure yet. He is in the field, tired, weary, hungry looking for the closing hour of the day. Get deeper! Till one more row. When you’ll find the treasure you will be willing to sell the air/conditioning to get to the field where the treasure is. You won’t be working for a salary. I have none yet. But I have something that is beyond a description and a price tag value.

 

God does not restrict and hinder us from having many things providing that they do not rule our lives.

Those things will not make you happy until you’ll find the treasure, the precious pearl – Jesus.

 

Do not ruin your life pursuing and paying for the substitute in your life.

You cannot have somebody’s treasure or genuine pearl. You need to discover the hidden pearl, treasure for yourself.

You need to have your own field. The pearls and treasure of a great price is a deep relationship with Jesus.

I know that he is with me. I know that He is committed to me. I know that He hears me. I know that He loves me. I know that He answers my prayers.

Do not leave this place without touching Jesus.

He who has ears – let him hear what the Lord is saying at this hour.