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The following blog is a summary of a message preached by Eric Swithin.

Watch the Sermon HERE!

Have you ever wondered why even after achieving your dreams, you still feel empty inside? Why the things you thought would bring lasting happiness only satisfy for a moment? The answer lies in understanding what Jesus meant when He spoke about treasure hidden in a field.

What Makes the Kingdom of Heaven So Valuable?

Jesus tells us in Matthew that "the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. And a man found it. And in his joy and excitement, he runs home and sells everything he owns so that he could buy that field."

The treasure is infinitely valuable because Jesus, the King of the kingdom, is infinitely valuable. But here's the challenging question: Is there anything you are unwilling to sell in order to buy that field?

Why Worldly Things Never Truly Satisfy

Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest man who ever lived (worth an estimated 1.3 trillion dollars in today's money), made a startling confession in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11: "I denied myself nothing that my eyes desired. I refused my heart no pleasure... Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless. A chasing after the wind."

This man had everything - the finest chariots, endless gardens, a thousand women, unlimited resources. Yet he found it all meaningless. Why? Because as he later wrote, "you cannot enjoy life apart from him" (Ecclesiastes 2:25).

What Does True Satisfaction Look Like?

The money, the nice things, all the offerings of this world are like a sports drink that claims to be a "thirst quencher" but actually makes you thirstier. They promise satisfaction but deliver the opposite.

In contrast, Jesus declares in John 7:37-38: "If anyone is thirsty, let them come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the scripture says, will have streams of living water flow from deep within them."

And in John 6:35: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Why Aren't More People Satisfied in God?

If we know intellectually that God is our source of true satisfaction, why do so many remain unsatisfied? Statistics show that the average pastor prays only five minutes a day, and the average Christian prays just one minute daily.

The issue isn't knowledge - it's relationship. Many people have religion without relationship, head knowledge without heart connection. They know about God but don't actually know God as their very best friend.

Learning from Moses: The Man Who Wanted More

In Exodus 33:11, we read that "the Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend." Yet in verse 18, Moses makes an incredible request: "Please show me your glory."

Think about this - Moses was already meeting with God face to face, yet he wanted more. He was satisfied, yet unsatisfied. And remarkably, God doesn't rebuke him for asking. Instead, God graciously grants his request to the degree Moses could handle it.

This teaches us a profound truth: You can ask for more. There is more. God is looking for people who will seek Him with all their hearts.

How Do We Encounter God Like Moses Did?

Seek His Face Before His Hand

Instead of approaching God primarily with requests for things, spend time worshiping Him and asking questions about His character. Ask Him about His preferences, His heart, His ways. Seek to know Him, not just use Him.

Meet With Him Until You've Actually Met With Him

Don't just go through religious motions. Stay in prayer and worship until you sense His presence, until you know you've had a real encounter. You'll know when it happens - His peace will overtake you.

Read His Word to Hear His Voice

Read Scripture not just for information but for revelation. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight what He wants to speak to you. As you become familiar with His voice through His Word, you'll begin to recognize it throughout your day.

The Gospel Never Gets Old

We never graduate from the gospel - we go deeper into it every day. Like approaching a cross from a distance, the closer we get to God's holiness, the bigger the cross becomes. We see our need more clearly, but we also experience His grace more powerfully.

As we approach Him, His grace meets us exactly where we are. "He who has been forgiven much loves much" (Luke 7:47). The more we understand our need and His provision, the more our love for Him grows.

Life Application

This week, commit to seeking God's face with new intensity. Set aside time each morning to meet with Him - not just to pray through your list of requests, but to worship Him and ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you. Read His Word asking, "What do You want to show me about Yourself today?"

Consider these questions as you begin this journey:

  • Can I honestly say that Jesus is my very best friend, with no close second?
  • What would I be unwilling to "sell" in order to pursue a deeper relationship with God?
  • Am I satisfied yet unsatisfied - content in God but hungry for more of Him?
  • Do I seek His face (who He is) more than His hand (what He can do for me)?

Remember David's prayer from Psalm 63:1: "O God, you are my God; early in the morning will I seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you." This can be your prayer too. You can be a person after God's own heart - someone who runs after His heart with passion and determination.

The treasure is there, waiting to be discovered. The question is: Are you willing to sell everything to buy the field?