Treasure Hunter!

Build Connection

Do you know anyone who bought something at a garage sale or thrift store to find out that 10 dollar item they purchased was valued at $1,000’s because it was an antique or more that it seemed?

There are several TV series around this idea, it’s called Storage Wars and it is where people bid on abandoned storage units and hope they can turn a tidy profit. One episode saw someone pay $800 for a unit and found a profit of $40,000. Another time someone purchased the contents of a unit and paid $600+ for nothing but trash.

Believe it or not we are all treasure hunters. Some of us are hunting treasures that bring wealth, some are hunting treasures that bring bring joy into our lives, and some are hunting treasures that give us a feeling of accomplishment or something to be proud of.

Create Tension

This morning I want to talk to you about a treasure you literally can’t live without!

This treasure is free, yet it is the most valuable thing you will ever have.

This treasure is a single decision, but affects every choice you will make for the rest of your life.

This treasure is offered to everyone, but only a few will find it.

This treasure determines who is wise and who is foolish.

This treasure is the only thing in this life that cannot be taken from you.

Provide Solution

Matthew 13:44–52

“44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. 48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.

49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.” 52 Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.””

Are you searching for the greatest treasure that can ever be found?

Everyone is searching for something.

Love, joy, adrenaline, hope, satisfaction, a way to remove guilt.

The first think we see is that the Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure that needed to be found.

It was not easily discovered…

Some who find it, lose sight of it’s value.

I would say maybe they never had possession of the treasure, but just saw it and liked it!

What Kind of treasure is the kingdom of Heaven to you?

There are all kids of treasures in this world.

Treasures that are viewed by almost everyone as valuable.

This would be anything that brings monetary wealth or influence.

Anything that brings in a lot of money or power.

They go hand in hand…Have you ever heard rich person say, “It’s not about the money?” Then why don’t the give it all away?

Maybe they should say, “It’s not about making more money!”

Treasures that are viewed by a small group as valuable.

There is no real definition of this because it is so wide in it’s variety

Almost everything can fall under this category,

Hobbies, relationships, work (ie. financial increase).

These are not specifics but general ideas…

Treasures that are only viewed by you as valuable.

This is different for everyone and they are usually very specific treasures.

My golf game…

Making my home look/function better

Spending time with Jeanette and Eli.

In both the first and second descriptions of the kingdom of heaven in our text says that they “sold everything they had to acquire it.

What are you willing to give up to acquire the Kingdom?

Mark 10:17–22

“17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

While God does not ask us all to give up all our possessions to enter the kingdom, he does ask us to be willing to give it all up!

But there is something he does require of us…

Luke 9:23–25

“23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”

Change the way we think.

Change what we desire.

Change where we invest .

Are you making the Kingdom of Heaven a better place?

Now I know what you are thinking, Heaven is perfect how can I make it better?

Matthew 6:19–21

“19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

The most important way we can store up treasures in heaven is by inviting others to join us in the Kingdom.

Does your life reflect the Kingdom of God as a treasure or torture?

The Kingdom of Heaven is the only Treasure you can give to others without giving up part of what you have.

b. The other way to store up treasures in heaven is by doing things that give us no earthly reward!

This is hard because it requires us to act in faith.

Encourage Change

Have you found the Greatest Treasure ever?

Are you making the Kingdom of Heaven better?