Treasure and Truth

[The Midweek Encounter is a ministry of Encounter Church in Kentwood, MI. These posts are reflections on Sunday's message, which can be heard here each week: http://encounterchurch.org/messages] 

I was recently involved in a production at Spectrum Theater with the following story line: An elderly woman travels to the Middle East and unknowingly brings back a teapot containing a powerful genie. (Yeah…a comedy.) The bad-guy-previous owner will do anything to retrieve this priceless genie—travel to America, break into her apartment, hold a knife to her throat, and threaten murder—all to gain the treasure contained in the teapot. Let’s face it—a genie with unlimited power to fulfill one’s dreams and fantasies is pretty good motivation to seek out a treasure. And who isn’t intrigued by a good treasure hunt story?

The Bible also contains stories about seeking or finding treasure. Jesus’ two parables of people seeking or finding treasure are found in Matthew 13. Looking back at what Jesus had been talking about before this, I discovered that these two parables about the kingdom of God are smack-dab in the middle of a whole bunch of parables about the kingdom of God. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a farmer and seeds, weeds, mustard seeds, yeast and dough, and the treasure parable is followed by a parable of a net and fish. All these stories begin with “The kingdom of God…” or “The kingdom of heaven…” Seems like a pretty random list of things to describe God’s kingdom.

But in the past, when I was asked to lead a short children’s message on the sermon topic, I would walk about my house looking for ordinary objects to help me make abstract concepts into concrete ideas that children could understand. Okay, I admit, it also helped me understand them better. Cans of Campbell’s soup, a charcoal briquette, a broom, and a tape recorder all made their appearance at one time or another. So I can imagine Jesus walking along trying to think of ways to make real or concrete the very abstract idea of the kingdom of God. Seeds and weeds, yeast and dough……and treasure. I bet the disciple’s ears perked up at that one.

However, the treasure turns out to be us. What a wild and crazy idea! The kingdom of God happens to actually be the people who live in it. All of us---the broken, the messed-up, the dysfunctional, the selfish, the greedy—we are the treasure that Christ bought and redeemed at the highest cost ever. As simple as that is, I often find it hard to wrap my mind around that thought.

Author Anne Lamott relates that when she teaches Sunday School, a favorite ritual of hers to do with the children is called Loved and Chosen.

“I sat on the couch and glanced slowly around in a goofy, menacing way, and then said “Is anyone here wearing a blue sweatshirt with Pokemon on it?” The four-year-old looked down at his chest, astonished to discover that he matched the description—like, what are the odds? He raised his hand. “Come over to the couch,” I said. “You are so loved and chosen.” He clutched at himself like a beauty pageant finalist. Then I asked if anyone that day was wearing green socks with brown shoes, a Giants cap, an argyle vest? Each of them turned out to be loved and chosen, which does not happen so often. Even Neshama—Anyone in red shoes today?—leapt towards the couch with relief.” (from Grace Eventually)

In truth, we are all loved and chosen. The good people, the rotten people, people we respect, and people that, if we are truthful, we wished lived far, far away.  All of us—the treasure chosen, bought and paid for by Jesus.

The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

[Sandy Navis is happily retired and spends her days doing pretty much whatever she wants to do. She is a firm believer in the power of laughter, singing while doing the dishes, crazy dancing while cleaning house, and eating chocolate every day. Sandy has three grandkids, who she loves to talk about even more than breadmaking.]