The word for “treasure” in German is Schatz, and in that language, Schatz is a common term of endearment. When my goddaughter was little, I used to call her that all the time; sometimes, I still do. She is, without question, a treasure to me—one of a kind and irreplaceable; the word fits how I feel about her perfectly.
It is unfortunate that, in English, the word “treasure” rarely conjures up a person, but instead, almost always refers to monetary wealth. Even today, I think the first image that suggests itself to most people when hearing the word “treasure” is a chest full of gold coins and a secret map. A treasure might refer to a collection of expensive jewelry, an inheritance, or a valuable art collection—things you store in a bank, put behind a elaborate home security system or even keep hidden, so no one can see them but you.
The irony is that such “treasures” are fleeting and can be taken away from us at any moment. They can be stolen or lost; and even if not, eventually, they will pass out of our hands into the hands of others. Is the care and attention that is devoted to such things worth it? Are such material objects worth being “treasured”—with all the attendant devotion and affection the word implies? The reality is, probably not.
In this text, Jesus reminds us of two things worth remembering as he invites us to reorient our priorities and think more deeply about what we treasure. The first and most important is that, to God, we are the treasure. God cares about us passionately, particularly, and with careful providence; to God, our worth is beyond price. The second, which follows from that, is that, trusting in God’s love and care, we are freed from worrying about transient things and invited to set our hearts on our neighbors and the stranger in need as our treasure. A life of discipleship is a joyous life of deep relationality, a life where we both treasure and are treasured—all grounded in God’s treasuring of each one of us. You are God’s Schatz; who is yours?
Rev. Kristin Johsnston Largen, PhD
President
Wartburg Theological Seminary
