Buried Treasure
March 17th, this past Sunday, was St. Patrick’s Day. This holiday is filled with images of shamrocks, the color green and leprechauns. In Irish folklore, a leprechaun is a small, trouble-making creature, who excels at one thing: finding hidden treasure. Where is it? In a “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”
Now, bear in mind, this is an idiom, but it is germane to our discussion today. When someone says, “I am looking for my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” it is not simply talking about money. It also refers to your hopes and dreams. In fact, Jesus voices us it this way in Luke 12:34,
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34, ESV)
In other words, the pot of gold is what captures your heart. What does your heart treasure? We all need an honest assessment. Many of us are digging for buried treasure making deals with proverbial Leprechauns to aid our quest. Let’s face reality—all of us are gold diggers. Yes, I said it. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Jesus says, “What captures your heart rules your life.” All of us want that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Face The Terror
Terror seems an odd subject to include in a post on treasure hunting. However, let me make an assertion: our fears reveal what we treasure. It’s true. What do you fear losing? Do your fears drive you actions? Perhaps they are a clue to the desires of our heart.
In Luke 12:1-12, Jesus addresses our fears by discussing the morbid topics of judgment, hell and blasphemy. The Pharisees are center stage as this section follows his confrontation with the Pharisees in Luke 11. Jesus teaches us two key principles. First, our private life should match our public life. He was about the leaven and hypocrisy of the Pharisees (v. 1). One day their private deeds and motivation will be evident for all to see (vv. 2-3).
This reality should give us a sober mind. Jesus then gets in the theme of “fearing the Lord (vv. 4-5).” This points to the second principal: develop proper fear. Too many of us are afraid of people and we don’t fear God. That sounds counterintuitive—why should I fear God? Because he is holy and just—he must punish sin. Jesus says this,
And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Luke 12:8-10, ESV)
Notice, again, there is a dichotomy between man and God. Fear of people will cause us to hide our faith. Fear of God will cause us to be bold for our faith. Why? When you fear God you recognize his power, his calling on your life, as well as lengths that Jesus went to pay the penalty for your sin. Trust him!
Assess Your Treasure
In Luke 12:13-21, a man interrupts Jesus teaching and asks him to arbitrate his inheritance dispute. Jesus cuts to the real issue:
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15, ESV)
Jesus says, “GUARD against covetousness.” So it’s worth asking, “What am I coveting today?” The bigger house. The promotion. The next academic degree. The new car, the new phone, the new relationship. As good as your life may be, and as blessed as your life may be … there is always more you can have. At what point will you be content? It reveals something about the treasure of our hearts. What do we do? Give.
In the New Testament (NT), God does not command us to give a specific amount of money. It is not in there. 10%? That is the OT. The language of the NT is sacrificial giving. What does Paul say? 2 Corinthians 9:6-7,
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7, ESV)
So, what is his instruction? (1) Prayerfully, decide what God is calling you to give. (2) Don’t give reluctantly because you have to. Don’t think, “Alright God, I’ll pay my membership dues.” (3) God loves a cheerful giver. The heart behind it all is this—generosity kills greed. Generosity images God. Generosity points us to the real treasure in Jesus.
Trust The King
If you want to re-orient the treasure of your heart … you have to trust the King. Yet, so many of us don’t trust him. Instead, we need to heed Jesus words in v. 22-23:
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. (Luke 12:22-23, ESV)
Don’t be anxious about your life. Now, this verse points back to the previous section. What causes anxiety in our lives? Provision. All the examples he gives here have to do with provision—food, clothing, nourishments. How will we provide for ourselves without money? Isn’t that why the guy who interrupted Jesus want the inheritance? He want a better life filled with wealth and no worries. Have you ever worried about money and bills? What would it be like to not worry and trust God? It all comes back to the heart. Bible Scholar Darrell Bock makes a wonderful observation:
“Our heart can tell us if we are anxious, and our pocketbook can tell us if we are generous. Both tell us if we are trusting God.”
Do you trust the King? This the “X” marks the spot. Ultimately, that may be why you are picking up your shovel and digging in all the wrong places. What should we do instead?
Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (Luke 12:31, ESV)
The only thing you need to do is seek his kingdom. Everything else will follow. Seek the kingdom by having faith in the King! And if you are a disciple of Jesus, you may remember this was a key piece in the Disciple’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come. Give us today our daily bread.” The more you pray that prayer the more you keep coming back to Jesus. Don’t worry—TRUST THE KING! What does it look like to seek the Kingdom? Let me conclude with the famous prayer of St. Patrick entitled “Christ Be With Me.” It goes like this:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, Lord, be ever with us.
