Insurance or
Treasure?
September 2, 2008
By Jerry Scott
I have in my safe box at home
some documents of considerable value, but I never look at them, read them, or
consider their worth. They are insurance policies. In the event of my death,
Bev would present them to the companies that back them and collect funds that
would insure her financial security. I am glad I have the policies, but I do
not really treasure them.
Many believers regard
Christianity much the same way as I regard my life insurance, as valued but not
treasured. They are glad to know they can pray when times get tough, glad to
have the assurance that heaven awaits when life’s journey is over. But
meanwhile they are chasing other dreams and spending their time and money to
own trinkets of temporal value.
The gospel message is frequently
cheapened in our time. Jesus is reduced to some Heavenly Buddy instead of the Lord
of Glory. From some presentations of the “gospel,” a person could conclude that
after saying a little prayer that expresses regret for past misdeeds (we don’t
even use the word ‘sin’ since it is so judgmental) and inviting “Jesus to
come into my heart,” the only thing to do is to show up in church somewhat
regularly and put some money in the offering plate. And that’s being a
Christian?
Jesus says otherwise. In a couple
of short parables He declares that knowing Him and experiencing the life of the
Kingdom requires sacrifice, effort and commitment. Read it for yourself. Jesus
said, “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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for
fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything
he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46, NIV).
I can hear you asking, “So,
Jerry, are you saying that we ‘earn’ our salvation? Are you suggesting that what
Jesus did for us on the cross is not sufficient to save us?”
Not for a moment. We can do nothing
to add to our salvation, which is fully and freely provided by God through
Jesus Christ. But to intimately know Christ requires difficult choices,
self-denial and a focus on a different treasure than fame or wealth. When
a person is pursuing the Kingdom as his or her treasure, every decision is made
in the light of serving Christ and of seeking His will. It does not allow us to
“do what we want to do” in any given situation. Rather, we do what He wants
done — forgiving those who wrong us, loving those who do not love in
return, giving away our resources without calculating benefit to ourselves,
taking on responsibilities we would rather leave to another, and so on.
Jesus again makes it clear that
grace is free but not cheap when He says, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses
to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters — yes,
even one’s own self! — can’t be my disciple.
Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my
disciple. … Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you,
whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple” (Luke
14:26,27,33, The Message)
Believer, ask the Holy Spirit to
help you evaluate your life today. Honestly ask yourself,
“Is knowing Jesus a matter of having insurance, or is He my Treasure? Am I
keeping Him handy for times of crisis, or loving Him with my whole soul, mind,
heart, and strength?”
And, then choose to own the Pearl
of Great Price, for there is nothing and no one to compare with Him!
— Jerry D. Scott is senior
pastor at Washington (N.J.) Assembly of God.
