“By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.”
Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV)
Series Focus: “Thy Kingdom Come”
As we enter this season of the year in all of it’s glory—the fall bounty, crisp air, colorful leaves, warm clothes, comfort foods—we unpack old treasures and often purchase new ones to decorate our homes, celebrate the season, and create lifelong memories. One of our fall traditions is to take a family trip to a small Indiana town to celebrate my parents’ anniversary.
We’ve had five generations of our family make the trip through the years. The town is full of unique shops and a variety of restaurants. Treasures are purchased; good food enjoyed; family celebrated; and memories are made. My parents have established a firm foundation of love, honor, respect, generosity, and compassion for others. This annual trip commemorates their union, recognizes the legacy they have built, and rejoices in the future they have fostered.
We depart each fall excursion with material treasures to unpack and lifelong benefits money could never buy—and a few extra pounds we could stand to lose! The layers of knowledge, wisdom, instruction, and example my parents have provided through the years have instilled lifetime lessons and treasured truths in our lives. They have given excellent training for us to embrace, glean from, and practice through every season of life.
I was reminded of the wisdom my parents have provided and the treasures they have shared as I studied this week’s lesson of the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 13:52, Jesus said:
“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Every scribe, scholar, teacher who has been trained, educated, equipped, purposed for the Kingdom of Heaven is like a master, owner, administrator, manager, ruler, commander of a house, who brings out of his storehouse what is new and what is old.
When Jesus refers to the new treasures and the old treasures, I understand that to mean there are eternal truths in the New Testament and the Old Testament. Both are needed for the foundation of faith we build our lives upon as we study the Kingdom of Heaven. We must include the entire story and embrace the truths weaved therein from beginning to end. Not one word shall be omitted. Not one word shall pass away. The word of God will stand forever. To be an administrator in the Kingdom, we must have knowledge of the whole story, and be willing to share our understanding with others.
As I unpacked our storage room in recent weeks to decorate our home for this season, I unwrapped many treasures we’ve purchased through the years from our annual trips to Indiana. My sweet granddaughter has marveled at the pumpkins and lights, pictures and candy dishes. I was reminded then that you can’t have the new without the old. The heritage and lessons my parents provided have paved the way for the legacy that lives today, and will extend past them and beyond me.
Likewise, there are treasures God has deposited within us: the richness of His word, His unfailing love, a measure of faith, and the gift of His Holy Spirit. Lessons, instruction, truth, wisdom, comfort, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, grace, healing, restoration, peace, help, provision, and victory—He has provided it all! As believers, we have a heritage in Christ, we are part of His legacy, and we have a future full of hope!
Friends, we are being trained for the Kingdom of Heaven, and we are the administrators over our houses. What treasures, New and Old, are stored in your house? Are they packed away in boxes, shoved in the corner of a dark room, and only opened, brushed off, and on display for a few weeks each year? Or are you pulling from the treasures deposited within you over the period of your lifetime, to experience their benefit and pass on the lessons to others?
Embrace the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven. Become a scholar, a student, and a teacher of the truths therein. Exercise authority in the Kingdom as a “master of the house.” Share the treasures in your storehouse from the New and Old Covenants. Carry on the legacy of a Christ-follower, Light-bearer, and Love-giver. Fill the future for others with wisdom, understanding, truth, and knowledge.
Hold Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Proverbs 24:3-4, 14; Matthew 13:52, 24:35; Isaiah 40:8, 54:17; Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19; Psalm 119:111, 145:4; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Romans 12:3; Jeremiah 29:11
