Buy the Field!

Jesus describes the kingdom as being like treasure hidden in a field, Matt 13:44-46. In this parable the man who finds the treasure hides it again then goes and finds the money to buy the field, which costs him all he has.

The kingdom in this framework is hidden in something fairly ordinary, the decision of the man is not to dig it up and take it away but to buy the plain old field which is now dignified by the presence of this treasure. How much is this true of us and of our communities.

I am involved in a network of community projects called Eden and in my recent musings on my work I have been challenged to be someone who sees life in a place even amidst deprivation. Eden is fundamentally about finding treasure in a field then giving your life to buy that field, not just taking the treasure and running, or seeing a field and deciding to bring our own treasure but percieving the kingdom and dedicating yourself to cultivating kingdom growth within the community in which it by God's grace is to be found.

God works in a context and as we seek to reflect him we're not just treasure seekers but field seekers, buying our workplaces, our communities and our city.