Treasure of Heaven
Notes
Transcript
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. 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, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The Lesson in Filling The Void
In a brief overview of psychology we are brought to an awareness of the void created inside of us by the very nature of avoiding the things in our lives that create the greatest tension both morally and ethically. This is to say that whether we are trying avoid resolving relational issues or to reconcile a foreign trauma, we take great strides at holding onto the hope that whatever it is we are running from didn’t happen or ended differently. Even worse the issue of holding onto the bitterness of the once upon a time that soured on us.
In examining the surfaced issue we may see the perceived loneliness, sadness, and misery is often a result of being in search for the answers and not finding it. One thing we learn in nature is ‘Nature Abhors Voids’ Being a part of the created nature something inside of us screams fill the void… fill the void… fill the void. In our search for answers our humanity turns to: Alcohol, Food, Sex, Bad Relationships, and Terrible Decisions. None of which will ever satisfy, or even come close to filling the void. All of which leaves us feeling worse about the self than before. The guilt leads to shame and the shame to emptiness as we repeat the cycle over and over again.
In the US the Lottery is played in 43 states and gives people a 1:272m chances to win. The likelihood of winning would require you to play 12 hours a day every day for over 50 years to win. At $2 an entry you would likely spend 86 million dollars for the hope of winning.
The cycle of family abuse tells us that offenders will often offend again and again until the individuals values and moral references are changed. Yet, victims for many reasons stay or go back to the abuse. The greatest reason given is the hope of change.
The Treasure found in the Kingdom of Heaven is the only thing that can satisfy.
The Unintentional Seeker
The Unintentional Seeker
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
This person is someone who is caught up with the busyness of this world
Reliance on worldly gain
Is unaware of what is greater
encounters the things owned by others
By-Products of COVID; isolation-despair, hyper focus on what is not working
Emotional Gravity
Self-fulfillment lacking
Accidental encounter with the kingdom
Filling that is strange
Contra-self autonomy
Secures the Treasure
Burying to protect against thieving marauders
Purchase
transfer of ownership
makes it their own
The Intentional Seeker
The Intentional Seeker
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Person who knows what they are looking for… merchants were accustomed to finding precious and valuable items
This is our thinker
The 18th century brought about the era of great thinkers.
At first mad efforts to answer questions theology raised.
Developed into more questions than answers which logic could not answer
Reason and Logic as primary source for authority and legitimacy
Even the thinker is found face to face with the Kingdom of Heaven
evokes a decision
Josh Mcdowell:
wanted a way to disprove God
Found himself deeper in love with God
Even they know when they have found what they were looking for
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Internally you have the voids you wish to fill… what are you filling it with? Have you found the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven?