Thursday, 11 February 2021
Title: Treasure Island
by Dr. Tho Lye Mun

Matthew 13 The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “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.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The novel “Treasure Island” was penned by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson in the 1880s narrating a tale of “buccaneers and buried gold”. It managed to capture the sense of adventure of the times when a curious world was opening up to land and sea travel for ordinary folk. In fact, every tale that has ever captured young boys (and girls) imagination throughout the ages commonly had elements of discovering great wealth and treasures, usually after battling evil forces and rescuing damsels in distress. Robin Hood, Aladdin, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and the list goes on. Even in contemporary movies and tv series catered for adults, across all languages and cultures, the pursuit of great wealth is an often used narrative inter-woven with comedy, romance and adventure. Why are we so hard-wired to think about this topic?

Bringing things right up to date, what if you were told 5 years ago to put all your money into investing in Bitcoin, for example. In fact, some people I knew did just that, they emptied their savings and even took loans. Today, their investment has multiplied 100 times. Just imagine never having to work again, ample time to pursue life at your own determined pace, financial security for family and loved ones.

In this parable, Jesus taps into our hard-wired desire to pursue treasure and great wealth (see also Matthew 6:19-21). Yes, I believe God put in us the desire to seek out that which is valuable and imperishable and the discernment to differentiate valueless from priceless items. Of course, living in a fallen world, Satan has directed these desires towards the material things of the world. God wants us to reorientate our hearts towards the imperishable treasures we have in heaven.

I believe, there are 3 points to be garnered from the story. First, the men whether they had inadvertently stumbled upon or were actively seeking the treasure, RECOGNISED the value of what they found. Some people have lived all their lives in spiritual dryness and loneliness apart from God that when they encounter with the living waters (John 4:14, John 6:19), immense love and forgiveness of Jesus they have an epiphany that this treasure is never to be given away.

Second, they were willing to sell all they had to buy this treasure. Did you see that? ALL they had. Whatever they owned were no match in value for this treasure. Sin, bad habits, money and big bank accounts, accolades, status, power are no match to the value of the Kingdom of God.

Third – he rejoiced! There is no greater joy in life than finding Jesus. Habakkuk 3:18 “yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Prayer

You are my treasure, Lord. The love You give me is worth more than gold. The forgiveness You bought me is worth more than diamonds. Thank you, Lord for giving me a new life in You.

每日灵粮
2021年2月11日，星期四
题目：金银岛
作者：陶乃文医生
翻译：吴淑娉姐妹
经文：马太福音13: 44、45 藏宝于田与珍珠的比喻

“天国好像宝贝藏在地里，人遇见了就把它藏起来，欢欢喜喜地去变卖一切所有的，买这块地。天国又好像买卖人寻找好珠子， 遇见一颗重价的珠子，就去变卖他一切所有的，买了这颗珠子。”

苏格兰作家罗伯特·路易斯·史蒂文森的小说〈金银岛〉写于1880年代，内容描述一个海盗与藏宝的故事。由于当时陆地和航海事业逐渐发达，人们有机会到处旅游，这故事确是满足了很多人对地球的好奇和探险兴趣。事实上，自古以来，一般上能吸引青少年（不论男女）的故事，通常都以发现巨大财富或寻宝为题材，很多时在取得宝藏之前，主角都先要与恶势力搏斗，或英雄救美……罗宾汉、阿拉丁、印地安纳·琼斯、星球大战等等……即使是适合成年人口味、以各种不同语言和文化背景拍成的电影和电视连续剧、喜剧、浪漫或探险故事，追求丰厚财富亦是屡见不鲜的题材，为什么我们对这话题有如此浓厚的兴趣？

以今天的事物为例，假如5年前，有人提议你把所有资产投资在比特币上，你会怎样？事实上，在我认识的人当中，确有人这样做了，他们倾尽所有，甚至贷款而买了比特币，如今他们的投资已增长了一百倍……试想一下：不必工作、有充足的时间做自己想做的事、决定生活的节奏步伐，更可以为家人及所爱的人提供经济保障……

耶稣说这个藏宝于田与寻珠的比喻，正针对人追求财宝（或巨富）这与生具来的愿望， （另见马太福音6：19-21）上帝既使我们渴望寻找有价值和不腐坏的东西，祂也赐予我们判断力，以分辨事物价值的高低，诚然，生活在这堕落的世界，撒但使我们的心倾向物质世界，上帝却希望我们能重新检讨心之所系，向往天国永不朽坏的财宝。

我觉得这比喻能带给我们三个启示：

1）这些无论是偶然发现，还是积极地寻到宝藏的人，他们都体会到这珍宝确实有它的价值，有些人一辈子过着远离上帝、孤独或灵性上干燥的生活，当他们遇到活水，（约翰福音4： 14 ，约翰福音6： 19 ）对耶稣无尽的爱和宽恕有所顿悟时，他们会对它珍而重之、永不放弃。

2）他们愿意变卖所有的一切来购买这珍宝，你看见了吗一一他们所有的！他们所拥有的一切和这份珍宝相比实在不算得是什么；罪恶、不良习惯、金钱、丰厚的银行存款、声誉、地位、权力等等的价值远远不及上帝的囯度。

3）他很高兴！生命里没有比找到耶稣更大的快乐了！哈巴谷书3: 18 “然而，我要因耶和华欢欣， 因救我的上帝喜乐。”

祷告
主啊！祢是我的宝贝，祢的爱比黄金更有价值，祢的宽恕比钻石更珍贵。谢谢主，赐我在主里新的生命。