More Parables
This post will discuss three more Parables: Treasures in Heaven, Wise and Foolish Builders, Old Cloth and New Wine.
Treasures in heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
Jesus uses two other parables to talk about treasure. The parables of the treasure in a field and the pearl of great price.
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. Matthew 13:44-46 NIV
As we have noted before these parables operate under the principle of “How much more!” How much more valuable is the Kingdom of God than the riches of this life. How much more is the value of the Kingdom than all we own of worldly wealth?
In recent years Jordan Peterson has exploded into worldwide fame through books, lectures, and YouTube videos. Like a kind of modern-day prophet, he exhorts us all to aim for the highest good; to speak the truth in love with integrity. His two books of rules for life urge us all towards a more mature existence of moral integrity.
Without an explicit declaration of faith in God or Jesus he demonstrates, more than proclaims. He explains he acts “as if” he does believe and personally does his best to follow, the wisdom of the Bible and Jesus’s teachings. To be clear, he has indeed reaped a good deal of earthly treasure. Yet, if we observe correctly, he has gained much more in the realm of treasure in heaven. We observe this in the way those who have followed his advice have grown in their own maturation towards lives of personal integrity, responsibility, truth, and love.
All this helps point us to the treasures of which Jesus speaks. St. Paul puts it this way:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
It has been clearly reported that the thrill of winning the lottery wears off. Winners become accustomed to the changes new wealth brings. Then they tend to revert to their general level of happiness from before their winning event. People are often happier after less financial gains. For example, a shorter commute to work could be better than a raise in pay.
Another problem with the pursuit of worldly wealth is demonstrated in a proverbial story of a reporter who asked John Paul Getty, “How much is enough money?” He replied. “Just a little bit more!”
We in the U.S. value “the pursuit of happiness.” However, wise counsel tells us happiness is a fleeting goal at best. Jordan Peterson argues persuasively that the pursuit of meaning is better. Moreover, we experience meaning as we move towards a high aim or goal. As suggested above, the highest goals are faith, hope, and love. These come to us in relationships. The most important is our relationship with God. For most people the next most important is with our spouse or significant other: followed closely by our children and other family members. As our circle of relationships expands, we include our close friendships, colleagues, and members of groups. At best it also expands to neighbors, the public as well as the least, lost, and lonely.
I have used the example of prison ministry several times. It is where I find much meaning and treasure. It is an example of a parallel teaching of Jesus. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 Those who participate in the ministry give much of their time, talent, and treasure for the privilege of witnessing the Holy Spirit transform lives.
Questions for reflection
1.What is you highest aim in life?
2. What do you treasure the most?
3. What relationships mdo you treasure
4. Who do you know who seems most content with their life and why?
The wise and foolish builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
I currently live outside of Shreveport and Bossier City Louisiana. The Red River divides them. Numerous wealthy folks have built very expensive homes along the banks of the Red River. This is all well and good most of the time. However, they are on the wrong side of the levee! In the twenty years I have been living here they have all been flooded two or more times! None have “fallen with a great crash.” Yet all have experienced much inconvenience, destruction, and expense. I find it impossible to understand how people who are intelligent enough to earn enough to build such expensive homes lack the wisdom to build in better locations. I wonder if Jesus had literally seen similar situations along the Jordan River.
Remember the principle of “How much more.” How much more important it is when building a life to have a firm foundation. Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Matthew 21:42 NIV
The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
“Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone set in a prominent location on the outside of a building. It has an inscription on indicating the construction dates of the building and the names of architect, builder, and other significant individuals. The rite of laying a cornerstone is an important cultural component of eastern architecture and metaphorically in sacred architecture generally.” Wikipedia
As with building a structure it is important to have a solid foundation when building a life. Hopefully for most of us this begins in a more or less functional family home. Regardless of our upbringing, when we become adults it becomes our personal responsibility to lay our own strong foundations. Reading and meditating upon the Bible is a good place to start. It is never too late to begin. On the other hand, it is better to begin sooner than later.
Harley Swiggum, Lutheran pastor, and creator of the Bethel Bible series tells the story of his conversion. During World War II he had the good fortune of being stationed on an island in the Pacific. There was no fighting in this place and much opportunity for free time and carousing. As good as this might seem he became bored. He received a Bible and decided to read it. He had what he called a “confrontation with the text.” I expect it was more likely a confrontation with God through the text. It became the foundation for the rest of his life. It also, through the Bible study he developed, became a foundation for many other lives as well.
As I look back over my life, I can see many kinds of foundational “stones” in the building. My family life was relatively functional. My hometown was a safe community with good schools. Participation in church school and worship was important to me. The “Great Commandment” to Love the Lord with heart, soul, mind, and strength so impressed me that years later it became the foundational idea for my Doctoral Thesis. The Boy Scout organization provided me not only with fun and adventures but also leadership skills and values. I still can recite “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” Even now I do my best to do a kind deed daily.
Questions for reflection
- Who and or what are the foundations of your life?
- Have you ever found that you were building upon sand?
- How did you recover?
- How is Jesus becoming the cornerstone of your life?
New Cloth and new Wine
16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:16-17 NIV
Some may be unfamiliar with the images of these two short parables. Although it is still possible to find wineskins (Amazon sells one) we mostly buy our wine in glass bottles. A leather wineskin has the possibility of some stretch caused by a wine that is still fermenting and expanding. However, it does not shrink back to its original shape. Thus, to refill a stretched bag with new wine is asking for it to burst. The other image is much the same. To use material for a patch that has not been shrunk on clothing that has is asking for ruin.
It is easy to see truth in these parables regarding modern or contemporary worship settings. Rock bands go over better in a theater style church than in a traditional sanctuary.
I believe it reasonable to think Jesus was probably referring to the traditions of the Pharisees. They were the old stretched out wineskins whose useful days were over. Their “hedge” around the Law was too brittle for the fresh Spirit He was introducing. The letter of the law was killing the spirit.
In retrospect this was true with my failure to bring “renewal” into a traditional congregation. We called our casual communion service A.W.E.S.O.M.E. An acrostic for Alternative Worship Experience Some Others Might Enjoy. A small group of mostly new people was drawn to this worship. However, when the altar Guild discovered we were weekly moving the pulpit to make room for the band all hell broke loose.
We also held a Faith Alive weekend as an attempt to bring in a fresh spirit. The program consists of a series of lay talks that are primarily testimonies. To this were added opportunities for small group discussion and fellowship. The closing service included an opportunity for the congregation to critique the weekend and make plans for further developments. One of our newer members spoke up. She suggested that we should strive to become known as “A healing church”. I believe she meant we should continue in our practices of praying for healing, including anointing with oil, laying on of hands, sermons that encourage healing and testimonies. This came to a screeching halt when the Senior Warden (like a church council president) stood up and loudly said, “Over my dead body!”
We might also meditate upon how these parables relate to us as individuals. Most of us in one way or another do our best to grow mature and become better people over time. On occasion there are events, ideas, tasks, and people that challenge us to grow. If we cannot adapt; if we cannot stretch ourselves: our minds, our character; things will not go well. We may not burst or tear, but we might be stuck with sour grapes.
Questions for reflection
- Have you had a taste of “New Wine”.
- When and How?
- What about it is a challenge?
- Looking at your life as a series of periods (maybe in terms of places, jobs, adventures, people etc.) how have you stretched to grow into a new, wineskin?