Sharing is one of the first social principles children are taught. It must be taught, for it is not a natural human inclination. We might assume that Jesus was all about sharing – but the next two short parables he offers have a possessive twist:
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
The hidden treasure is puzzling – it is unusual to find treasure in a field. And who hid it? It is obviously of great value, for the one who finds it, hides it again, then quickly goes out to secure its possession by buying the whole field. Indeed, she gives up everything she has to buy that field.
In the story about the pearl, there is no hiding, but the merchant is certainly seeking. Amid all the pearls he encounters and examines, he finds one of great value and gives up everything else he has to own it.
Is it we who are to find the treasure, seek the pearl, and upon finding, sell everything we have to secure that precious thing? Is the kingdom of heaven, the life of God, that precious to us? What would that look like to you? What would you need to sell, figuratively or literally?
And are we to keep the life of God for ourselves? Of course not – Jesus tells his followers to go out and proclaim the Good News. But understanding the intimacy and love of God revealed in relationship through Christ is a gift of such value, once we truly “find it,” we want to hold it close, and not dilute it. I think of the parable of the wise maidens with their extra store of oil – if they were to share it with the foolish ones, no one would have any light. Jesus is suggesting we go “all in” and put our relationship with God first – that way, everyone will have light and to spare.
Of course, there’s an entirely other way to interpret the parable, turning it over and looking at it from another side: Could Jesus be saying that we are the hidden treasure found by God, who went and sold all that he had to buy the field (the world) that contains us? Could Jesus be the merchant in search of the finest pearls – and seeing us as having infinite value, gave up everything he had in this world to secure us, redeem us? Can we acknowledge that we are that precious?
How might we think or speak or move differently today, thinking of ourselves as pearls of great price? How might we engage in unearthing the hidden treasurers in other people, perhaps obscured under layers of soil – wounds, disappointments, discouragement, shame?
In prayer, imagine yourself as treasure in a field or a pearl in a velvet box – highly prized, sought after, sacrificed for. Let your spirit offer praise to the God who delights in you, who has deemed you worthy of love, who has given all to secure your love. Bask in God’s love and pleasure. Luxuriate in it. Soak it in. Believe it.
And share it with someone else who needs to know how precious he is, who needs to know she is a treasure found by the God who made her and went to hell and back for her.
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