Intr \u2013 <\/strong>\u00a0\u201cLove people and use things; not the other way around.\u201d We\u2019ve all probably heard, or said, that before. It shows up in books, conversations, and social media quotes. And it gets repeated so often because of course that\u2019s true.<\/p>\n I\u2019m thinking about this saying today because Jesus approaches the topic of treasure<\/em> and heart<\/em> in the Gospel today. Parables pointing to investing all one has in the things one considers a treasure. \u00a0So, when it comes to pointing to what is the biggest treasure in our life, it seems to be a no-brainer. People<\/em>. Things we use. People we love and treasure.<\/p>\n Yeah\u2026but if we\u2019re honest, walking the talk<\/em> on that one is a problem for every one of us. You and I live in a world of things that challenge our use of time, attention and investment<\/em>. For example: Cell phones in our hands; Cars in our driveways; Busy weekly schedules; Trips we plan; and now AI, posing an ultimate challenge to how we use things and how we see people.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n The Gospel goes deeper. Jesus addresses the tension in our hearts about treasure and trust that is not just about people and things. It is about Persons<\/em>. It is about God Himself. Jesus says, \u201cWhere your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\u201d In other words: show me your treasure, and I\u2019ll show you your trust. Where does our heart rest when it comes to unconditional trust?<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The parables<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus knows how our hearts work, how easily we get attached to the wrong treasures. The world, the devil and our own sinful desires drive us away from Him and towards things we can see, click, count in figures or control. He knows how easily we trade the eternal treasure for the ephemeral treasure of our present time.<\/p>\n So I don\u2019t think it\u2019s an accident that, in Matthew 13, we get four images in a row circling back to the same theme: treasure, value, worth.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s have a look:<\/p>\n One man finds treasure by surprise. The other finds it after a long search. But both of them respond the same way \u2014 total, joyful sacrifice for the sake of one thing of supreme worth. [2]<\/a><\/p>\n That net catches everything \u2014 good and bad alike \u2014 and only at the shore does the sorting happen. Where our tresure is in life indicates what happens at the end of life.<\/p>\n Jesus starts with things (fish, nets, wages), but He ends with people and eternity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHave you understood all this?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHave you understood all this?\u201d Jesus asks. \u201cYes,\u201d the disciples say. Have they, though? Really? These are the same disciples who, just chapters later, will argue about who among them is the greatest; will fall asleep in the garden when Jesus needs them most; will scatter when things get hard. They said yes.<\/p>\n Just like us. I\u2019m sure we understood the meaning of Jesus\u2019 saying. But surely, we will still stumble and fall.<\/p>\n This world full of treasures that seem more visible, palpable and valuable, tempts our hearts away from Him. We praise Him on Sunday, but the week is sometimes filled with treasures that so not match the worth stated in God\u2019s Word. Sometimes we will care more about our things than about people.<\/p>\n You know: Things feel safer. Things don\u2019t argue. Things don\u2019t betray. Things don\u2019t bring their own history, trauma, complexity, and sin into the room. People do.<\/p>\n Some AI tools in particular has become a big temptation. They are patient in a way people rarely are. It doesn’t get tired of us, doesn’t need anything back, doesn’t carry its own history into the room. Yes, it is not always easy to prioritize people over things. We say \u201cfamily first,\u201d \u201crelationship first,\u201d but then we are exhausted, it\u2019s easier to reach for the things that keep us in our world that to the conversation that drives us to the other person\u2019s heart and head space.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the word that accuses us. But what\u2019s the Word which comforts and strengthens our faith?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here\u2019s what Jesus is pointing us to:<\/strong><\/p>\n First of all, Jesus points us to God Himself<\/strong>\u2014Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of Heaven, the presence and rule of Christ. That is the real treasure.<\/strong> That is the One thing worth losing everything else for. We belong to the Kingdom that has no end.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s another special, comforting angle to these parables: there is a long Christian tradition to teach these parables this way: that Jesus is the One who gives everything to purchase the field, to claim the treasure, to obtain the pearl. In other words, He sees us<\/em> as treasure. He counts us worth His life. Yes, <\/strong>one of the most special answers to the question \u201cwho is the treasure, really\u201d in these parables is this:\u00a0 It\u2019s You and me. We are the treasure.<\/strong><\/p>\n Think about who, in all of Scripture, actually does what these parables describe \u2014 someone who sells everything, holding nothing back, to obtain something of supreme worth. There\u2019s really only one. Paul writes in Philippians that Christ, though he was in very nature God, emptied himself \u2014 gave up his glory, his rightful place, ultimately his own life on a cross. He held nothing back. He sold it all. To obtain what? You. Me. Us. The Church. Sinners, every one.<\/p>\n From this perspective, the treasure hidden in the field, the pearl the merchant spent his whole life searching for \u2014 it\u2019s people. It\u2019s you. People are more important than things. For Jesus. For you and me.<\/strong><\/p>\n In Christ, the treasure runs both directions. <\/em><\/strong>He gives up everything to gain us \u2014 and what he gives back to us, in return, is himself. We\u2019re not just handed a prize and sent on our way. We\u2019re connected to the relationship that has existed eternally between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit \u2014 adopted into that family, brought into that love. That communion, that belonging, is the treasure beyond price.<\/p>\n And when that starts to sink in\u2014when we see that we have been treasured by God\u2014that\u2019s when our own attachments begin to loosen. Then the car, the trip, the phone, the technology, even AI, they can stay in their proper place. They can become tools again. Good tools. Helpful tools. Tools to serve people instead of replacing them.<\/p>\n People are more important than things because that is How Christ sees us.<\/strong> We reflect His love for people by loving people. In Christ we are people who have already been loved by the One who gave up everything for us. He found His treasure\u2014and it was you.<\/p>\n Jesus closes with one more image: \u201cEvery teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.\u201d This is the beauty of God\u2019s Word, Old and New Testaments, giving us the whole counsel of God.<\/strong>[4]<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Old and New Treasure<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus doesn\u2019t simply say, \u201cTry harder to trust Me.\u201d He first shows us His<\/em> trust. He is the One who leaves the glory of heaven, takes on flesh, walks among us, suffers, dies, and rises.<\/p>\n And in that, He reveals both our treasure and our trust:<\/p>\n Jesus does something beautiful here: He tells stories about treasure, but He is talking about about people. And about Himself. Jesus is teaching what it really means to love people, use things, not the other way around.<\/p>\n This may be a world obsessed with things. But our good news is this: You belong to a God who doesn\u2019t just use people and discard them. You belong to a Savior who Himself became a person, the most important person ever.<\/strong> That person, God and Man, Jesus, gave everything for you, treasures you, calls you into a Kingdom where people matter more than possessions, where the greatest wealth is to know Him and to be known by Him. \u201cThe Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure.\u201d And in the eyes of that King, you are His treasure too.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong> – Love people, use things \u2014 not the other way around. That’s not just good advice anymore. It’s the shape of a the Christian life.<\/strong> People who trust that they have already been loved and treasured first.<\/p>\n ________________________________<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> The point is not to say that phones or AI are evil. They are gifts, tools, blessings. But one of the challenges they present is that they quietly invite us to trust<\/em> them\u2014to depend on them to build our sense of security, comfort and even identity.<\/p>\n\n
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