Scripture References: Matthew 13:44 and Matthew 6:33
According to what Jesus tells us, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is hidden in a field. And then he tells us that we are to seek for this kingdom and his righteousness. Comparing the kingdom of God with a hidden treasure reveals that we must think of Gods kingdom as being something that is very valuable. Who would waste their time in seeking for something that was of no value? But if we believe something to be very valuable, then most people, if not all, will begin to seek for it. The above scripture tells us that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is hidden in a field and when a man finds it, he hides it and he goes and sells all that he has and he buys that field. The man in this parable realized that the treasure in the field was more valuable than the things that he possessed and so he sold all his possessions and bought the land that the treasure was on. What this parable is revealing is that we must believe that the kingdom of God is more valuable than what we may possess, and even more valuable than anything else that the world has to offer. If we truly believe that what God has to offer is many times more valuable than what the world has to offer, then I believe that we will do as the man did in the parable and be willing to forsake all that we possess and all that the world has to offer and seek diligently for the kingdom of God and his righteousness as Jesus said.
Since we know that the kingdom of God is something that Gods word tells us about, but not seeing it with our natural eyes to prove to us that it exists, then for this very reason many will fail to give up their possessions and what the world has to offer and begin to seek for it. Many will be like the rich man that came to Jesus that was not willing to forsake what he possessed, which was his riches, and so therefore he chose the riches of this world instead of the true riches that was in Christ. He evidently could not see by faith that what Jesus had to offer was many times more valuable than all the riches that this world had to offer him. If this rich man would have believed that he could have eternal life and all the treasures in heaven, as Jesus told him, then I would say he would have accepted what Jesus had told him, but since he turned and walked away he chose to keep his riches and in doing that he rejected the greatest and most valuable gift of all, which was eternal life. Another example we find in Gods word concerning the riches of Christ was Moses, which was a man that could have been Pharaoh and have all that this world has to offer, but he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose rather to suffer the affliction of the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Moses believed that the true riches was the things concerning God and so he chose to say no to this world and what it had to offer. What about us, are we willing to forsake all and take up our cross daily and follow Jesus in the way of righteousness believing that the true riches are not in what this world has to offer, but is rather in Christ? Consider your ways diligently before you make a hasty decision about this and see if you have what it takes to believe Gods word and submit to his way of life and be willing to forsake this world, as we are told to do. What could possibly be of more value than to have eternal life and to enjoy all the blessings of God throughout eternal ages? What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world for just a season of time and in the end lose his own soul? Are you willing to forsake all and take up your cross daily and follow Christ who did no sin? It's truly amazing how that most people would be willing to put their life at stake if they believed there was a chance to gain great wealth and security in this life, but when it comes to giving up their life for what Gods word has to offer there will no doubt be very few that's willing do it. And the reason for this is simply because most people are living by sight and not by faith. In other words most people cannot accept by faith that what God has to offer is greater than what this world has to offer. What the world has to offer can be seen with the eyes, but what God has to offer must be accepted by faith not being seen with the eyes.
To accept by faith what Gods word offers to the believer cannot be seen with the naked eye causing him to believe it, because faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. God does not show us what he has prepared for them that will love and serve him, but rather the Spirit will reveal these things to us by revelation, as I Corinthians 2:9-10 states saying, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." God will give us complete assurance of all things if we trust and believe his word. What Gods word has to offer those who will love and serve him is certainly many more times more valuable and more precious than what the world has to offer, but this is something that we must accept and believe by faith before God will give us complete assurance of it. To have assurance of the things of God means to be fully persuaded in our minds that what God says in his word is the absolute truth of the matter. It was the prophet Isaiah that said in Isaiah 32:17 these words saying, "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." We can be fully assured that what God says in his word is true and that he can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or believe. This faith was first revealed by Abraham and Paul tells us concerning this faith in his epistle of Romans 4:20-24 that says, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." Paul spoke of these things concerning God saying, "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Notice that Paul calls the true riches of Christ as being the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Do you count what Gods word says and reveals as the greatest treasures more valuable and precious than all that the world possesses and can give you? If so, then you must be willing to forsake all and take up your cross and follow in the footsteps of Christ who did no sin. Amen and amen