Hello everyone!
You’ve all heard certain public figures referred to at various times as “living treasures”. These are special people who have made a wonderful contribution to the community in their particular sphere of endeavour or influence, and they are honoured whilst they are still with us. Often, we honour people after they have died for their wonderful contribution. The title “living treasure” is about much more than what these folk have done or achieved. It is just as much about who they are, as well. It’s about personal qualities and character which have endeared them to our hearts so much.
There is even an official National Living Treasure status that has been created and which is occasionally updated by the National Trust of Australia's New South Wales branch. This “Living Treasure” status is awarded to up to 100 living people at any one time. Recipients have to be living and are selected by popular vote for having made outstanding contributions to Australian society in any field of human endeavour. Current status recipients include academic, Barry Jones, singers, Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton-John, Olympian, Raelene Boyle, and others whose names you would immediately recognise. Former living treasures (now deceased) include, surgeon and war hero, Colonel Sir Ernest Edward, “Weary” Dunlop, naturalist, Harry Butler and Formula 1 Racing Champion, Sir Jack Brabham. Now, a critical factor in all this is that the person awarded living treasure status has impressed themselves on the rest of the population as people worthy of honour and respect. They are cherished not only for what they have done but for who they are – and the names I have included here clearly illustrate these attributes. These living treasures are seen as men and women, whom the sum of them individually, is greater than their actual humanity. They are loved and even adored by us.
I recall some years ago, I think it was in 2012, the same year Olivia Newton-John was awarded Living Treasure status, that mining magnate, Clive Palmer, was also awarded this status – and there was uproar around the nation! I won’t comment further here (I don’t want to get sued!), but I can imagine some of the reasons for the uproar. The National Trust, at the time, even refused to endorse his selection.
I think you get the drift about what is a living treasure – and what’s not.
Christians are also living treasures according to the apostle Paul – or we are supposed to be! He writes that despite our humanity, the “clay jars” that we are, we carry this treasure around inside us … for a reason. Look at what he wrote way back in 54 AD …
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
Paul says here that we are more than the sum total of our humanness because of this treasure that has been deposited in us. We are more because of Christ in us! We are more regardless of the circumstances, because of Christ in us. We are more even when hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down and so on, because we carry around in our bodies, in our humanity, that is, the death of Jesus (which destroys sin’s power over us), and his resurrection life (his eternal life that is at work in us non-stop) every day! We are more than our mere humanity because of the life of Christ bubbling away in us the excess of which overflows … so that people see this new life revealed, made manifest, in us …
Final Word
So, we’re living treasures in a very real sense. That’s you. And me. And for a very important reason ultimately on this earth … that this new life we have in Christ in all its surpassing, indefatigable, all-conquering power; in all its richness and supernatural capacity – and undisappointable hope - might be recognised as something far beyond unborn-again humanity. That it is from God, who sent His Son … that we may have this new life in all its super abundance as ones born again.
This is eternal life. It is (for now) carried around in clay jars … but it is far, far brighter, stronger, richer and incredibly lively and unstoppable. It is more than the container … and the circumstances that cannot contain it … Awesome, eh?
Clay jars … with treasure inside … living treasures each one of us – even on a bad day.
And so, we have an obligation, dear friends, no matter the circumstances and difficulties, regardless of our trials and tribulations, and that is, that we so live as to endear ourselves to the hearts of the people of this world. We so live that the life of Christ shines brightly before others (Jesus in Matthew 5:16) and, in doing so, encourage them to turn to their heavenly Father who waits to deposit this treasure in them also.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
When we fix our eyes on what is unseen, the eternal in us is stirred up and made manifest. Not achieved. But nade visible by Holy Spirit within us. This is our light.
Living treasures … appointed by God. Forever.
John 17:3 [Jesus] “Now this is eternal life: that they know You in living experience, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”
You are dearly, dearly loved.
Ps Milton