A fu ihe ka ubi... (Selling the storehouse)

 

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field...and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

-Mt 13 :44-47

"A fu ihe ka ubi eree oba" is an Igbo adage which loosely translates to : " when one sees what is greater than the farm, he sells  the barn. This implies that when one sees something of high value and important he gives up his 'storehouse' (his entire treasury/savings) to get it....at all cost. 

On the face value, this adage feels like just about any other saying, but on a close look, it has a lot deeper implication. 'Oba', which means 'barn', in the traditional Igbo context connotes one's storehouse where they stock up the volume of yams harvested (as yams was one of chief food and yardstick for measuring wealth in the old Igbo culture).The size of one's barn show his value and net worth in the traditional society. Now, what this adage implies is that the owner not only stops cultivating or giving attention to his farm, he also sells his barn, the source of his livelihood, which is a really big deal since it could impart his wealth...that's deep! This means that whatever could make him sell off should really be well worth it. 

Matthew 13, in Jesus' parable, talked about the Kingdom being like a man or a merchant who found a treasure or pearl of high value and sold ALL he had just to get it. That's right..all he had! That shows the high worth of God's kingdom. 

The idea of the kingdom of God is not just a physical place, it goes beyond it to encapsulate God's influence in righteousness in the entire affairs of man : Governance, politics, education, commerce, lifestyle, etc. The Kingdoms simply means God's direction in the affairs of man...and that's a treasure that is worth giving up everything. 

Jesus understood this concept of giving up everything for a worthy treasure when he endured the cross and despised shamed just for the joy that was set before him to sit at the right hand of power of the throne of God.(Heb 12 : 2). God himself did the same thing when he gave up Jesus to come and die on the cross to save humanity...he literally took a risk and a bet with the devil on His Son just to save the world from the enemy. 

That's what having and living in the kingdom looks like. It take a lot of sacrifice, but it is worth giving up EVERYTHING : former thought patterns, old lifestyle, systems, reputation, validation, image, prestige etc...because it is well worth it. Finding the Kingdom starts with finding JESUS who is the king of this Kingdom...not in a religious or clichéd kind of way, but intentionally developing a personal relationship with Jesus. It is through the quest and desire to know him more that the Holy Spirit teaches you things about him on a deep and personal level, which gives you a better understanding of the Kingdom. 

God calls out in Jer 3:33 saying : 'Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.' So when you call to him and ask him to show you more about himself and the Kingdom, he definitely will, which in turn gives you rest, peace and satisfaction. May He help you find this amazing treasure as you open your heart to seek for it.

God bless you!