No earthly king’s golden glories can compete with the unfailing treasure of the kingdom of God (Luke 12.32-40).
Context
80 years ago, in 1939, an excavation in Suffolk uncovered one of Britain’s archaeological wonders, the Sutton Hoo ship burial. This week its custodian, the National Trust, has unveiled new exhibition halls and opened up a fresh route around the site. It hopes to help visitors learn more about the treasures discovered there, including the famous and ornate seventh century Anglo-Saxon warrior’s helmet and golden belt buckle.
A much more ancient treasure has also been receiving fresh attention this week: Tutankhamun’s golden coffin, which was first discovered in the 1920s but dates back to around 1324BC. It has been removed from his tomb in the Valley of Kings, Egypt, for the first time since its discovery, for restoration under the care of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
Reflection
Treasure. When you hear the word, what image does it conjure in your mind? Tutankhamun’s golden grave goods could be the archetype: beautifully crafted from shining, precious metal, striking in beauty, ancient and awe-inspiring. You can imagine the excitement as archaeologist Howard Carter first broke into the burial chamber and peered inside. Could he see anything? ‘Yes, wonderful things’, came his reply. The archaeologists working on King Raedwald’s funereal mound at Sutton Hoo – Basil Brown, Charles Phillips, and others – will have felt that same sense of wonder as they uncovered the past's secrets, buried under the Suffolk soil.
Those two buried kings – Egyptian and Anglo-Saxon – took all kinds of things with them to their graves, probably in the hope of securing a comfortable, safe, even glorious afterlife. But such treasures aren’t eternal. Tutankhamun’s ‘coffin has suffered a lot of damage, including cracks in the golden layers of plaster and a general weakness in all golden layers’ according to restorer Eissa Zidan. The Sutton Hoo iron helmet is left in pieces and – whatever its original strength and splendour – would do little to protect a royal warrior now.
Material things, however splendid, beautiful, useful, necessary, or well made, will always fail us in the end. Yet throughout Luke 12 Jesus’ message is that we need not fear the frailty of our bodies or the loss of earthly things, ‘for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom’ (Luke 12.32). God’s gift of eternal life and love is worth much more than anything on earth. It is an ‘unfailing treasure’ (Luke 12.33).
So, with such a precious gift promised to us, how should we respond? By keeping our sights and hearts set on the kingdom, despite the abundance of glittering distractions that might surround us, or the hardships we might face in waiting. Jesus encourages his little flock – then and now – to stay ‘alert’ and focused, like the faithful slaves awaiting their master’s return in the parable (Luke 12.25-38), who stay awake and ready right through until dawn. Yes, waiting can be difficult but the master knows this – so much so that when he finally comes back, he is even willing to serve those who should serve him. And how awe-inspiring is that? In contrast to the kings of earth with all their power and gold, our God, our unfailing treasure, is a servant king!
Prayer
A prayer of trust and commitment, with refrains to declare aloud,
based on Psalm 33.20-22
When our future is uncertain:
our souls wait for you Lord, our help and shield.
When waiting wearies us:
our hearts are glad in you, as we trust your holy name.
When we are afraid or in pain:
our souls wait for you Lord, our help and shield.
When sadness overwhelms us:
our hearts are glad in you, as we trust your holy name.
When we are tempted to distraction:
our souls wait for you Lord, our help and shield.
When we are tempted to despair:
our hearts are glad in you, as we trust your holy name.
When hope seems far away:
our souls wait for you Lord, our help and shield.
When love seems distant:
our hearts are glad in you, as we trust your holy name.
When we hear your promise:
Our souls wait for you Lord, our help and shield.
When we hear your call:
Our hearts are glad in you, as we trust your holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you!
Amen.
Questions
- What memories do you most treasure? Do any of them offer hints about the beauty of God’s kingdom?
- How do you cope when you have to wait? Is it easier or harder if you don’t know how long it will take? Who do you know who is waiting for something? How can you pray to support them?
All-age activity
The song ‘Refiner’s fire’ by Brian Doerksen might work with some of these themes, either in sung worship or played during a time of quiet contemplation. Its lyrics reference gold and silver as a metaphor for the treasure of holiness and its vow to be ‘ready to do your will’ fits well with the tale of the attentive servants.
If you are using this week’s ROOTS Adult & All Age resources, you could build on the activities There your heart will be and Wish lists, asking people to think about what treasures they might want to gather up for the kingdom. You could write the ideas onto an enlarged treasure chest outline at the front of the church as people call them out, or you could hand out pens together with circles of white, grey and yellow paper (pearls, and silver and gold coins!) for people to write their ideas on before bringing them to the front to stick on to the chest (bring some sticky tack or tape for this). If people seem stuck for ideas, you could do worse than point them in the direction of Galatians 5.22-27, where the fruits of the Spirit are listed.
Young people
Students across Scotland received their results in National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers on Tuesday. Results days for those waiting in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will soon follow, with A-level results announced on 15 August and GCSEs shortly after on 22 August. Months and years of hard work will have gone into preparing for the exams, then months of waiting for the results.
How does waiting feel, not knowing what the outcome will be?
Exam results and qualifications can seem like a ‘treasure’ to be chased after, but it is worth remembering, especially for those who are getting results for themselves, that whatever the outcome, exam results are just one small part of your life. Good or bad, they don’t define you or your future, however much it may feel like it at the time. Hold on instead to the promise that you are a beloved and precious child of God, an heir to the kingdom – that is where your true treasure and future lies.
For those who are finding results or the wait for results stressful or upsetting, there is support and advice available through schools and also online, for example through the Young Minds charity.
Rebecca Froley was part of the team that launched ROOTS many years ago. She worships at her local Baptist church and works in online publishing and information services. In her childhood she was – albeit briefly – a member of the Young Archaeologists’ Club.
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