Finding Joy in Hidden Treasure

I think at some point in our lives, we all have dreamed of finding a million dollars. Maybe in a battered satchel, near a set of rundown train tracks. Maybe in an old leather briefcase, behind an old Christmas tree in the attic. Perhaps in a white envelope, written on a check from a rich uncle whom we’ve never known. But dreaming about getting that million dollars wasn’t even the fun part; dreaming about spending it was always where the real amusement began. A new house, a luxury car, a new wardrobe, and the list could go on and on. Oh the happiness that would be found if I could only find a million dollars!

I remember as a young teenager dreaming about finally getting enough money to build my own computer. (Yup, I was a geek.) If only I could have this computer, I would be able to do all of my homework on time. I could create incredible playlists in iTunes that would be useful for many all night prayer sessions in my room. And of course, there was that added plus of being able to play all the videogames I wanted (but surely that wasn’t the real reason I wanted this computer so badly). If only I could have this computer, then I would happy. Of course, I convinced myself of the same exact story when it came to getting a few new pairs of jeans at the mall, a new iPod, and steak quesadillas at Taco Bell; if I had it, I would be happy!

If you’ve ever spent five minutes in a similar train of thought, you can identify with me when I say that after getting the computer, buying the jeans, syncing the new iPod, and devouring the steak quesadillas, none of it seemed to live up to the anticipation I had originally invested. Granted, having the computer was still cool, the jeans were still stylish, the iPod was still jamming, and the quesadillas were still delicious, but the ‘finding happiness’ part? That thirst wasn’t quite quenched. It was almost as if I got more happiness in my hopes of owning these things then when I actually had them.

Matthew 13:44 tells us that, “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” (New International Version). Contrary to my examples above, this man in Matthew 13 had joy (happiness) after he found this “hidden treasure.” How does that work? What was so special about this treasure that he found, not only joy, but joy that would drive him to sell all that he had in order to purchase that seemingly random piece of dirt?

The treasure here is likened to the kingdom of heaven, the place where Christ Himself reigns and abides. The joy that comes from discovering this treasure is not derived from acquiring a portion of heavenly property, rather, John Piper in Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, states that this “treasure in the field is the fellowship of [being with] Christ.” His joy was rooted in his knowing, wholeheartedly, that he had secured a place in heaven forever. In contrast to my life (and possibly yours as well), his faith was tangible. It was something that could be seen and documented as evidenced by his quick, yet joyful, discarding of all earthly possessions. Nothing this world had to offer could be compared to such a treasure, and he had his joyous actions to prove it.

This observation then begs at least two questions. Am I willing to go to such lengths, such as giving up everything I own, for the sake of Christ? Am I willing to do that joyfully? I’ve found over the past few years that God has this weird way of asking more of me than (at first) seems necessary. I mean, he could have just asked that I give up everything for his sake and “call it a day”. But asking me to give up everything joyfully? Are you kidding? This is “classic Jesus”. Doing things his way never leaves room for human pride, ever.

But things really start getting incredible when you consider the following; giving up everything for Jesus Christ in a spirit of joy is never disappointing and always worth it. Unlike the new computer, the new pair of jeans, and a rocking iPod, hope and anticipation in him will never be left unfulfilled. He simply cannot be outdone, and such a realization can bring a comfort of joy that nothing in this world can touch. You’ll notice that I said, “can”. It has the potential. The ball, however, lies in our court. Will we continue to place unsatisfied hope and desire in the latest fashions, technology, and trends that leave us wanting more? Or will we find the treasure of Jesus Christ, and in the process find a joy that is unquenchable? Will we continue to dream about our next worldly pursuit, a pursuit that may inspire a fleeting moment of pleasure, but ultimately leave us empty-handed? Or will we return to the glory of the cross in an understanding that what was accomplished there can never be nullified? C.S. Lewis once wrote, “There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious.” That kind of happiness can only be found in Christ, a joy that inspires awe and reverence—awe and reverence that has the power to change who we are and how we act. But the ball is still in our court. Choosing to find such a joy is our decision and it cannot be made by anyone else.

His Word, however, is very clear on the matter. Psalms 37:4 instructs, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (NIV). He will indeed give us the desires of our heart, but only when we first “delight ourselves” (find joy, happiness) in Him. And that first step is so vitally important. When we find joy in Him, consequently, that means we’re not finding joy in worldly possessions. When our desire is not for the “latest and greatest”, fulfillment of authentic joy is a spring of fresh water that will never run dry.

I encourage you to honestly examine your life. What makes you happy? What do you place your hope in? New gadgets? A new wardrobe? A boyfriend or girlfriend? Or is it Jesus Christ? Enjoying friendships and possessions is not sin; he would not have made them if it were so. But when they overtake Him in the priority list of life, change must be made. I encourage you to find joy in Him today. I encourage you to eavesdrop on a group of bishops in 1647 as they penned the famous words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and stated that; “to glorify God and enjoy him forever is the chief end of man.”