Is there anything that you would give everything to have? Sometimes, we hear people use the expression, “I would give ANYTHING just to have ______.” Maybe it’s a car. Maybe it’s a house. Maybe it’s more time with a loved one who passed on too soon. But I’m wondering…what is EVERYTHING, and how much is it worth to us? If you’re a die-hard sports fan, you might think, “I’d give everything if my team would just win a championship.” But would you really?
In our parable for this coming Sunday, we read in Matthew 13, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that 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.” There’s treasure! A man sold everything and bought it. There’s a pearl! Again, he sold everything and bought it. This would mean that ALL HE HAD was the pearl. No house? No food? No clothes? What could be that valuable?
Sometimes, it’s easy to desire something that we don’t have, and overlook all that we do have. I’ve heard the following scenario posed and I think it’s interesting: If I were to offer you one million dollars, you’d probably be excited. All the options, all the possibilities… you’d likely be thrilled. But, if I were to say, “You can have one million dollars this morning, but if you take the money, you won’t wake up tomorrow,” that would probably change your mind. Most people would not take the money. Why? Because they would rather have the opportunity to wake up tomorrow and LIVE LIFE. This means that each day we wake up, we are receiving a blessing worth more to us than one million dollars! For me, this is a good reminder and an eye-opening realization.
What is the kingdom of heaven like, if Jesus says that these people in his parables were willing to get rid of EVERYTHING just to have it? What does God’s kingdom mean to you? Let’s discuss.
Very truly,
Pastor Adam
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