Christian Living

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Jesus loved to tell stories! His stories always had a purpose. There was always a special trinket of wisdom for us to hide in our heart and to apply to our lives.

In Matthew 13:44, we have a man walking through a field and stumbles upon a treasure. Can you imagine the adrenaline he felt? I wonder if he thought, “Life’s going to be great now! I have the perfect treasure!” But what to do with this treasure. It’s obviously something he can’t carry….it’s too big. So he covers it up, sells everything, because there is nothing more important than this treasure, and buys the field. Imagine the desire and passion this man had for the treasure.

The next little story Jesus tells, Matthew 13:45-46, is of a merchant who is out looking for a great treasure…in this instance, it is pearls. He finds the best pearl in the whole world, and he also sells everything he has so that he can have that great pearl. Price was not an issue…having the pearl was the only thing that mattered.

What do we treasure in life? What do we give everything for? What is the treasure we have chosen? Family is pretty important. Our jobs are important. Good health is important. The treasure or the great pearl that Jesus refers to in these parables is His Father’s Kingdom. What does that mean for us? Should we sell everything we have and give it to the church? What do you think deacons?

To answer that question, I think we need to get a handle on what the kingdom of God is to us. It sounds like the best family reunion to me…and it lasts for eternity. I know some family reunions feel like they last for an eternity, but this one is the best! God will be there. The saints who went before us will be there. I’m sure each one of us knows of someone that we want to be there. God’s heart breaks for those who will not be there. If God’s heart is breaking over this, our hearts need to break over this too.

Each person has great value to Him. The kingdom purpose is to save as many as possible, Jesus modeled this on the cross. He gave everything He had for the kingdom. Nothing was more important than the pearl of great value being the Kingdom of God. To have a heart for the kingdom purpose, we need to know God’s number one concern. God’s number one concern is our relationship with Him. Is that our number one concern? When we ask Jesus into our hearts, He comes to live in us. We become His temple. As dearly loved children, we become His servants. We are to use our gifts to serve Him. Serving God includes worshiping, praising, praying, and obeying Him. For all God has done for us, He is worthy of all these things.

So does God want us to sell everything and give it to the church? I don’t think so. But if there is anything that is standing between you and your relationship with God, that needs to be dealt with between you and God. God has a purpose for each one of us…I can guarantee that each of our purposes, no matter how different they are, has one purpose goal…the Kingdom of God. Are you allowing God to work His perfect plan of the Kingdom through you? If not, what’s holding you back? Do you fear missing other things too much? Are you not ready to put all your eggs in one basket? Find out why so that you can be free of it. Do you pursue the kingdom with great passion and energy like the men in the parables? What is standing between you and God? Get rid of it and experience the joy of a great treasure…meant just for you…given by Someone who gave everything for you with great love, passion, and energy.

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