On November 16, 1992, Eric Hawes, a metal-detecting enthusiast, was asked to help a local farmer find his hammer, which had been lost in a field. Using his metal detector, Hawes found something else instead: coins and other gold and silver objects. He immediately recognized it as something valuable, so he reported to the Suffolk County Council, owners of the land. The Suffolk Archaeological Unit professionally removed the contents on the following day. The collection is now in the British Museum. The find consisted of “15,000 gold and silver coins, gold jewelry and numerous small items of silver tableware, including pepper pots, ladles and spoons" (www.britishmuseum.org).
It is estimated that this Roman treasure, better known as the Hoxne (pronounced 'Hoxon') Hoard, was buried around 407-408 A.D. as Roman rule in Britain was deteriorating. It may have been hidden due to the political turmoil of the time. The hoard had been buried in a wooden box that had long since rotted away. The careful burial of this treasure probably means that the owner intended to come back and recover it later, but for whatever reason was unable to do so.
It was thus declared “treasure trove,” that is, objects of gold or silver that had been hidden with the intention of recovery but for which the original owner could not be found. Such discovery is to be reported to the police and subject to a coroner's inquest. If the find is declared treasure trove, it reverts to the British Crown and can be acquired by a museum on payment of a sum equal to its full market value. This amount then is passed on to the finder as a reward.
The British Museum purchased the treasure and a reward was paid to Hawes. Hawes gave the hammerless farmer, Peter Whatling, half of the 1.75 million British pounds paid him. *
The Hoxne Hoard Treasure, however, is not the GREATEST treasure!
LISTEN to the words of Jesus....
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44
The GREATEST TREASURE is to be a part of the kingdom of heaven, for therein are the greater, spiritual, and eternal blessings!
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, gave His life on the cross to pay the price for the sins of the world (Ephesians 1:7). Those who accept His offer of salvation through trusting faith (Acts 16:30-31), repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confession of His name before men (Romans 10:9-10), and baptism (immersion) into Christ (Acts 2:38), have their sins washed away by His blood and are added to the Kingdom of Christ, the church (Acts 2:41, 47; Colossians 1:13).
Jesus DIED in order to PURCHASE His kingdom (see Acts 20:28). It is worth much more than any sacrifice that we might make in order to be a part of His kingdom!
Won’t YOU trust and obey the King of kings so that you can have True Treasure?
P.S. Eric Hawes shared HIS treasure. Won’t YOU share the True Treasure of Christ and His kingdom with others? Why not share Living Water with someone today?
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org
* Sources: Neal Pollard, minister of the Bear Valley Church of Christ in Denver, CO, in his article entitled “The $3 Million Dollar Hammer.” Daily Bread, 8-12-10. See http://www.bearvalleycofc.org/.
Additional information gleaned from The Encyclopaedia Romana, the British Museum (www.britishmuseum.org), and www.hoxne.net
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