Our passage: Matthew 13:44-46 (OT Readings: Exodus 20:4-6, Psalm 18:1-2).

GCW Sermon – Preacher: Ian Bayne, 02/02/2020.

Recap

This is the third week of application regarding these two short, but profound parables. We have been using three words to focus our application by giving different perspectives on the passage: Lookers (or seekers), liquidators (or sellers), lovers (or storers).

Over the last two weeks we have looked at lookers and liquidators:

1. Lookers (or seekers) – in both parables there is someone who is searching for something

• only those who seek will find
• our search must have the right motive
• our search is in response to God. We love Him because He first loved us.
• they are successful because they search for the right thing
• they persist until they find it
• true searchers give utmost priority to the search. The kingdom is the most important treasure to seek in this life.

2. Liquidators (or sellers) – in both parables, the seeker is willing to give all they have to secure the treasure

• in terms of goals such as: leisure, treasure and pleasure
• in terms of aspects such as our: opportunities, access, possibility and existability

We still engage in these things during our search for the kingdom, but we liquidate and cede them to God.

Further application

Today we’ll look at the passage from the perspective of lovers (or storers), and see what motivates us to seek the kingdom.

3. Lovers (storers)

The word storers comes from Jesus’ sermon on the mount.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:19-20 ESV

We need to be a lover of the treasure that is the kingdom. We will use four words to aid our application:

Affection

When we see something really beautiful we have an affection for it. For example: those who have visited the Tower of London will have seen that the crown jewels in the UK have a beauty to them.

We can’t necessarily explain how our treasure is so beautiful. The phenomenon of ‘love at first sight’ is similar. Despite the name, this is more infatuation than love because we don’t know the person, but we know there is something special about them. There’s an irresistible pull.

The kingdom is amazing and we’re attracted to it. Like the storer in each of our parable characters, we are drawn to something beautiful in it.

Admiration

There is also an admiration of what the Kingdom offers.

Some people like the taste of fine wine. If you have seen them in action, you will know that expert wine tasters take their time over tasting: they admire the look and smell before they think about tasting.

We love to look at what God has done: in Christ we have every blessing. Isn’t this amazing!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

We can smell the stench of our sin and the sweet forgiveness of Christ as we take part in Communion, where we drink red wine as a symbol to remind us of Christ’s blood. Others see the ‘aroma’ of God’s Word preached, and our deeds as we put our faith into action.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

2 Corinthians 2:15 ESV

But we don’t just look and see the effects of God’s Kingdom – we can experience it for ourselves.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:8 ESV

We can discover the intricacy of the kingdom through our relationship with God through His Word, prayer and fellowship with other believers.

There is nothing cheap about the kingdom. Once we have tasted it, there’s no going back. We will never be happy to settle for anything less again.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was eventually killed by the SS in Nazi Germany. He observed that much of what was being practised in religious circles was a “cheap grace” that cost nothing because it was an academic belief in some far off God that requires little response and changes nothing. We don’t want this.

We need to draw deeper into the Lord, admire Him, and never settle for skimming the surface.

Jesus, Lord of all created, invites us to have fellowship with Him – how amazing is this offer?

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 14:2 ESV

Appreciation

In most instances in the Bible, the word ‘love’ is a verb (doing something), however it is occasionally a passive word: an appreciative love. An example is found in Psalm 18. In two short verses we’re given 10 different reasons why we should appreciate God.

I love you, O LORD, my strength. [2] The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:1-2 ESV

For each one of these we can say: “I love you Lord because you are my…

… strength, rock (anchor), fortress (safety), deliverer (rescuer), God, refuge (rest), shield (defence), salvation (made the way to Him), horn (power), stronghold (puts a fence around us to protect us).”

These verses are just some of the reasons why we should appreciate our God.

Application

So if we have affection, admiration and appreciation for something, then wouldn’t we want more of it? Like our parable protagonists seeking and selling as much as they can to store as much as possible of it?

But we normally talk about wanting more in the negative: more money? more status? more friends? If we are seeking these things of themselves then we will always need “just a little more” and will never be satisfied.

Fellowship with Jesus? In this context, surely wanting more is good? We should never be satisfied with what we have, and earnestly seek more of His Kingdom.

A lover is a collector. Some may collect trains, wine, stamps, memories with loved ones, eventually hoarding what is most precious. Most of the time hoarding is negative, because we are hoarding created things: e.g. money, possessions. However, hoarding the Kingdom of God is a good thing.

One way we can do this is by studying His Word.

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11 ESV

Don’t be satisfied with a little of the Kingdom. Get a lot: pursue it. Want more fellowship with God. We have found something of such great value; way beyond anything this world can offer. Why would we want anything else?

Resources

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