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One day during an early morning run on the outskirts of town…

…something glistened on the river bank.

Hmmm, I wonder what that is.

Why, it’s some kind of a box buried in the mud. The recent rains must have uncovered it.

But it wouldn’t budge. But I think I can reach inside…

Huh! It looks like some kind of old coin. There must be a zillion of them in there!

The runner put the coin in his pocket, and covered over the box with dirt before he ran home.

There! That should cover it.

Later, at the local coin shop…

Where did you get this?

Is it valuable?

This coin could be part of a large civil war era minting that was lost during a major battle in this area!

Whoever lays claim to this shipment would be an instant billionaire.

Billionaire?

Wow! What am I going to do?

If I uncover the treasure now, the owners of the land will have legal claim to it.

He checked the ownership of the land and fount it was part of a large tract owned by a commercial real estate development company.

Hey! It’s for sale!

He discovered the company wasn’t interested in selling off any portions of the tract.

Hmmm…if I want the treasure I’m going to have to buy the whole acreage.

Yet if this treasure is worth what I think it is, I could buy this land several times over.

But where am I going to get enough money for the down payment now?

He began to sell his possessions, starting with his house and furniture.

Bye! Bye!

Some of his possessions were easier to part with than others.

So long you old clunker.

But as he got closer to his goal He knew he had to part with his most prized possessions.

This has been in my family for several generations.

Okay, I’ll give you three bucks for it.

By the time he reached his goal, he had sold absolutely everything.

I have nothing left.

He knew he would probably be able to buy some of his things back eventually, but there were no guarantees.

Hey, it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

Sure enough, the treasure was worth more than what he had hoped.

I’m rich!

He was able to get back everything he gave up.

But the funny thing was, he didn’t want a lot of his old stuff anymore.

He started a whole new life and was able to accomplish many, many good things with the new treasure he discovered.

Moral:

Jesus gave us this parable…

“The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44)

When we joyfully give up all we cling to in this life and make a total commitment to him, we are able to enjoy the wonderful riches he has for us.

“And my God will meet al your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Keep this in mind: whenever you run into some of life’s rough edges, look at it as the joyful selling of some more of this life’s possessions so you can buy that field with the treasure in it God has waiting for you.

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