When Christ was on earth, He was brought in contact with some whose imaginations were fevered with the hope of worldly gain. They were never at rest, but were constantly trying something new, and their extravagant expectations were aroused only to be disappointed. Jesus knew the wants of the human heart, which are the same in all ages; and He called their attention to the only permanent riches. “The kingdom of heaven,” said He, “is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy there-of goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” He tells men of treasure beyond estimate, which is within the reach of all. He came to earth to guide their minds in their search for this treasure. The way is marked out; the very poorest who will follow Him will be made richer than the most wealthy upon earth who know not Jesus, and they will be made increasingly rich by sharing their happiness with others. {5T 261.3}

Da Kristus var på jorden, kom han i kontakt med nogle som havde indbildt sygelig håb om verdslig vinding. De hvilede aldrig, men prøvede hele tiden nyt og deres overdrevne forventninger blev kun vækket til skuffelse. Jesus kendte menneskehjertets behov, som er det samme i alle tidsaldre; og han (262) henledte kun deres opmærksomhed til de varige rigdomme. »Med himmeriget,« sagde han, »er det ligesom med en skat, der var skjult i en mark og en mand finder den og holder det hemmeligt og af glæde over den går han hen og sælger alt, hvad han har og køber den mark.« Han fortæller mennesker om uvurderlige rigdomme, som er inden for alles rækkevidde. Han kom til jorden for at lede deres tanker ind på at søge denne rigdom. Vejen markeres ud, den allerfattigste, som vil følge ham, vil blive gjort rigere, end den mest velhavende på jorden, som ikke kender Jesus og de vil i stigende grad gøres rigere, ved at dele deres lykke med andre.