"Worthless Piece of Dirt?"

Matthew 13.44 NIV

“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.”

The man in Jesus’ parable of the hidden treasure sold everything to purchase what others deemed a worthless parcel of land. His neighbors wondered, “What does he see in that old field of weeds?” The wise man saw beneath the surface. This ground was far more than a collection of rocks and rubble. It held the promise of unimaginable wealth. He would dig, get dirty, go deep, and find the treasure.

Did you ever think of yourself as dirty, worthless, and without value? Jesus thinks otherwise. He discovered “treasure hidden” inside of you. His Father in Heaven placed it there before you were even conceived. In fact, God “knew you” and chose you long before He “formed you in the womb” (Jeremiah 1.5).

The Son of God found you, an undeveloped bare lot. He stopped to investigate, dug beneath the surface, and unearthed the treasure God placed there. Jesus loved what He saw in you. He found His fortune there. It’s the “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17.21). Like the man in His parable, with “joy” Jesus “sold all he had” to purchase the field. He shed His own blood and gave His life for you. 

What does Jesus see in a dirty, useless piece of dirt like me?” He sees plenty. I am not worthy on my own merit, but I am worthwhile to my Maker. I am worth His while. Jesus gave His everything for me. He sold Himself to procure me. Jesus “bought [me] with his own blood” (Acts 20.28).

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,…”
2nd Corinthians 4.7 NKJV

“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us,

the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

2nd Timothy 1.14 NAS

There’s a “treasure hidden” inside of each one of us. We have value beyond measure to Jesus.

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In Jesus' parable of the hidden treasure, the hearers of His words are the ones who are called by Him to sell all they have to obtain the treasure of God. This is the apparent and plain meaning of the text. However, my post's application of Matthew 13.44 seems fair insofar as Jesus demonstrates the point in all His interactions with the object of His devotion, which, of course, is all of humanity. We are His treasure.