Mark 10:17–22 (Amos 5:6–7, 10–15)
Looking for Treasure
We all know the common movie trope, “X” marks the spot. Buried treasure is always accompanied by a very convenient map to detail its location. Thus, if you find the map, all you have to do is follow the trail and find the “X”. Seems easy enough, right? Of course, movies would be too boring if that was always the case. No, the explorer has to have some trouble along the way, booby traps, hordes of enemies, misdirection, etc. Finding the treasure was never as easy as the map made it seem. For the explorer would get to where they thought the treasure was, only to find out that they have been reading the map incorrectly all along. Perhaps the map was upside down, or left out a key detail, or had an extra clue that wasn’t immediately obvious. For I want you to think about life a little bit like following that map. When we’re looking at the map, it all seems clear and straightforward. However, when we actually go to find the treasure, it’s anything but. Consider that this is typically how many people view getting to heaven. If I simply follow all the steps, walk along the path, do the right things, then I’ll make it to heaven… or find the “X” if you will. This ultimately boils down into the sentiment, “If I’m a good person, I’ll make it to heaven.” But before anyone goes too far, I want us all to look at the map again and see the true path to the treasure. We need a new frame of reference if we’re going to find the treasure at the end.
In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus talks with a man seeking guidance. He has been following all the right steps, walking along the path, but still feels lost. Thus, Jesus shows him that he needed to look at the map a little bit differently. The treasure we often seek isn’t what we think it is. Rather, as we hear from Amos, we must learn:
SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE!
I.
What does God desire from us? That’s really the big question today. The rich man thought that if he followed all the commandments, then there wouldn’t be anything more that God could possibly want from him. He treated the commandments as a treasure map of sorts, to which, I’ll be honest, he wasn’t far off. Follow the commandments and you should be pleasing to God. But I want you to consider this man’s question, as we read, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Mark 10:17. His question shows how intent he was on finding the “treasure”. He knows that all he has done isn’t enough yet, and he wants the last clue on the map to lead him to the final step. But this is also where he goes wrong. What must I do…? He hadn’t fully understood the commandments yet to see, he really can’t do anything. Eternal life isn’t something that we can earn, much less be worthy of inheriting. By placing the entire effort on himself, he has in fact tossed aside the most crucial of all the commandments in order to keep the rest. He may do well in the second table of the law, that is, not murdering, not stealing, not lusting after women. But this means very little to God if we don’t first keep the first table, that is, having no other Gods, not profaning his name, and coming to worship him.
It’s not until the end that Jesus reveals this man’s true god, the treasure that he holds most dear. It was his money, his wealth. It was in relation to his own wealth that this man was blind to the law, how he could help and serve God and neighbor. What about you and me? Doesn’t the law reveal our so–called gods as well? Perhaps, we value our reputation more than God. Maybe it’s our time to sleep in that’s more important to us. Maybe like this man, its our money. Or maybe we’d rather have our friends without them knowing about our faith. Whatever it may be, let us not in pride say we’re innocent as to the law. It’s just as Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone,” Mark 10:18. No one is good. No one has kept the law in its entirety. Not one of us has been free of the urge to put something in our life in the place of God. This is why we have great difficulty finding the true treasure. We’re inclined to always look in the wrong spot.
II.
The answer to our question is actually a simple answer. It may not be easy, but it’s simple. It’s exactly as Amos told us, “Seek the Lord and live… Seek good, and not evil that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,” Amos 5:6, 14. We must reorient our minds and desires. We must change our view as to the treasure that we seek. So long as we desire treasure on this earth, we too shall walk away like the rich man disappointed and disheartened. The very treasure we seek is no earthly wealth or good life, but the very treasure of heaven. It’s Jesus himself! Jesus is our treasure and so shall we seek after him! And if this is the case, then what value does money have here on earth? What value does a perfect life here have? What value is our own life here, if our true treasure lay beyond this life? For our possessions here mean nothing if we don’t have the very treasure of heaven. This is why God calls us to be good stewards. We are entrusted with money, property, family, and this life as a stewardship to the Lord. And so, shall we treat it as such.
But even this isn’t our full answer. For as I pointed out before, the rich man went wrong way before he walked away. His error was that he only talked about himself. What must I do? No, that’s not what God’s law points us to. It’s not about what we can do or have done. It’s all about what Jesus does for us! Consider this that we read, “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me,” Mark 10:21. Jesus loves us even when we mess up. Jesus cares for us even when we have walked astray. Jesus loves us dearly so that we need only follow him to see… Jesus is good. He is true God in human flesh who has come to do all that the law demands. Thus, Jesus goes to the cross to die in our place, to complete for us the full demand and punishment of the law, so that now, he may seek after you and me! Just as Hebrews says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin,” Hebrews 3:13. This is our exhortation, that Jesus has died for you and all of your sins. He has died for all those times that you’ve placed something else in place of God. He has forgiven you so that you may inherit treasures eternal!
So, seek the Lord and live! See Jesus who comes to us with blood–stained hands as your greatest treasure. By faith alone in Jesus, God has made us pleasing in his sight! In Jesus’ name! Amen!