Tag: Matthew

  • Gold, treasure hunting and the kingdom of heaven

    A vial of Nova Scotia gold

    The little vial in the photograph contains raw gold. It was mined in a small private mine in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia gold is prized as some of Canada’s finest because of its warm, buttery color.

    I’ve always been attracted to bright shiny things. My mother used to tease me that I must be related to crows and ravens because they too are fascinated by shiny things.

    I’ve panned for gold and hunted for many other forms of treasure. I love semi-precious gems or even simply interesting-looking rocks and stones. I hate to leave a pretty rock behind.

    I’ve found dinosaur bones and fossils. I have stumbled across the occasional arrowhead and other artifacts. Old bottles and bits of metal have caught my eye.

    I have a small piece of driftwood that is actually a root. It is different because a rock is entangled in the root, and the root grew around it. It has no value other than to me, but it sparks my curiosity. 

    Old, rare, leather-bound books seem to call to me. I have this desire to collect and curate them for future generations.

    I love thrift stores, garage sales and auctions. Even if I don’t find something to buy I enjoy the thrill of the “treasure hunt”.

    Yet, as much as I appreciate such things, I know that their value is transitory. I don’t know that the streets of heaven are literally made of gold or the walls of precious stones, but the Bible uses that imagery. Certainly, the value of things will be inverted in glory.

    In this world people value things and use people. There we will use thing and value people. I know that saying is a bit cliché, but it holds truth nonetheless.

    At least two of Jesus’ metaphors about the kingdom speak of treasure seekers of sorts. Especially people who prize the earthly value of treasures.

    “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

    “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-45 NIV

    As much as they understood the value of earthly treasure, these men understood that the kingdom was of more infinite worth. It was worth everything they had.

    Jesus said,

    “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

    There isn’t anything new to us in these words. If we have been in church for any length of time, we can probably quote them and understand their context and meaning.

    Still, we are like sheep, easily distracted. Something shiny comes along and distracts us, and suddenly we have veered off course and are chasing the treasure of this world.

    There is no harm in owning some of the treasure unless they really own us. When we seek them to the exclusion of God, or we worry more about them than the things of God, we have a problem.

    Now, the earthly things that I consider treasures may hold no value whatsoever in your eyes. Still, we all need to examine our hearts to see what we place ahead of God. What treasures have become idols in our lives?

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    A vial of raw Nova Scotia gold got me thinking about my lifelong love of collecting treasures, from rocks to rare books. Jesus reminded me that the kingdom of heaven is treasure worth far more than anything we could ever dig up or collect.

    TAKEAWAY

    However precious, earthly treasures are only temporary. The kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than anything you could ever collect or own. 

    Loving beautiful or interesting things isn’t wrong in itself, but it becomes a problem when you value those things more than you value God. 

    Take time to examine your heart and ask what treasures may have quietly become idols competing with God for first place in your life.

    Celebrate your identity in Christ

    Is it right living or right belief?

    Our earthly treasures

    Flakes of mica

    Gold, treasure hunting and the kingdom

  • Fishers of Men

    Different gifting, same calling

    Steveston Harbor uagust 2026

    Earlier this week, we enjoyed a day trip to nearby Steveston Harbor in Richmond, BC. Founded as a separate community in the 1880’s, Steveston was home to numerous large-scale salmon canneries and fishing fleets. It’s still home to 600 fishing boats, the largest fleet in Canada. Seafood fresh off the boat can be purchased along Fisherman’s Wharf.

    It’s home to several whale-watching tour groups who head out regularly to catch views of orcas and humpbacks. We didn’t take a tour, but we still saw seals and otters around the wharf area.

    The downtown area, with many early 1900s historical buildings and the wharf, has been used in dozens of TV shows and movies. You may have seen Steveston without ever going there.

    A walk along the boardwalk and downtown brings you to more restaurants than you can count, fish markets, gift shops, a museum and stores of all kinds. Lining the boardwalk are signs about maritime heritage, including one that helps you understand what the different fishing boats look like and how they operate.

    Different species need different types of equipment. That makes sense. It’s also true when fishing for people. We are called to be fishers of men, but that doesn’t mean we all do it the same way.

    While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22 ESV

    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

    All of us are called to share the gospel, but not all of us are gifted as evangelists. Does that lack of gifting excuse us from sharing the truth? Absolutely not.

    We use the gifts, talents and tools God has given us. Some people are naturally inviters, and they invite people to church. Others have the gift of making conversation, and matters of faith come up easily.

    Still others live their lives striving to imitate Christ and love others. That can make people curious, and they ask about why you are that way. After all, loving your neighbor, walking in integrity and humility and not worrying seem strange to our world today.

    Perhaps you are a prayer warrior, laying down covering fire for the evangelists and praying for specific people to come to know the Lord.

    Maybe you are called to stand on a street corner with a Jesus is near sign and a megaphone. That’s not my thing, but if it’s what God calls you to, you need to listen.

    Perhaps it’s going door to door and giving out tracts. Tracts have been around a long time, and while many get thrown away, people have come to know the Lord that way.

    For me, it’s in relationships and conversation. I try to be alert to opportunities to discuss matters of faith and plant seeds. Sometimes they seem to go nowhere; other times they lead to deeper conversations.

    God knows you, and He knows people you can reach. Different fish are caught by different methods. 

    God is responsible for the results. Only the Holy Spirit can change hearts. Still, we are responsible for doing our part.

    There are plenty of lost people out there. Let’s follow our calling and go fishing for them every day. Eternity matters.

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    Walking the Steveston boardwalk, I saw signs explaining how different boats and gear are built to catch different kinds of fish, and it struck me that fishing for people works the same way. Jesus calls all of us to be fishers of men, but He doesn’t call us all to fish the same way.

     

    TAKEAWAY

    Different fish require different equipment, just as God gives each believer different gifts for reaching people with the gospel.

    Not everyone is gifted as an evangelist, but that doesn’t excuse anyone from sharing the truth in whatever way God has equipped them.

    Whether through invitation, conversation, prayer, tracts, or simply living faithfully, God is responsible for the results; we’re responsible for using our gifts.

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