The first time I played video games I was around seven years old. It was Christmas from what I remember. I played with a brand-new handheld console called the Gameboy Color. I played with my Gameboy for hours on end that day, only stopping to go find more batteries when the current ones eventually died. I remember the first games I played were Pokémon Red and Blue with neither being my favorite over the other. It was a novel experience for my young mind, that I would be able to play computer games that could fit in the palm of my hand and potentially could fit in my pocket. I played those games in the back seat of my Mom’s green Mazda 636 that night on the way home. I was only able to play the game when the glimpses of light coming from the streetlamps would flood the backseat of the sedan.

When reading Matthew recently, I came across this passage:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So, it will be at the end of the age.” (Matthew 13:44-49, ESV)

That memory of my mother’s car, the Gameboy, and Christmas day is so etched in my mind because it was my only and dearest treasure. Had you gone to that young boy and told him that anything could or would replace that thing that he held in his hand he would have shewed you away thinking you were speaking nonsense. I now know my real treasure is God’s kingdom.

Are you focused on God and what he is doing in and around you or are you being so distracted by the things that are fleeting? Would you hand over everything you hold dear to see the kingdom of God advance in your community and areas of influence? Or will you continue to hold onto your proverbial Gameboys, clouding your mind, blinding you and deafening you to the real work of the Holy Spirit? I pray that we would all let go of what is holding us back to find the real treasure in God’s work and domain.

- Sean