Worth Everything

Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

When Jesus describes for us the kingdom of God, he pairs a couple of beautiful pictures. The kingdom is like a treasure or a pearl of great worth. When a person finds it, he will eagerly let go of everything he owns if only he can have that treasure.

We need to answer for ourselves an important question. Is Jesus correct? Does he know what he is talking about? Is he telling us the truth? If not, then none of this matters. If so, then this information is the most important information ever.

If the kingdom of heaven is as valuable as Jesus has told us, then nothing we think, nothing we own, nothing we do, nothing we want is as important. If this treasure is as great as Jesus has made out, then nothing we go through, nothing we give up, nothing we lack matters in comparison. We want this treasure.

What changes if we believe the Savior? Perhaps we are a little less drawn to the treasures of this life. For what do people around us give themselves? Many work hard for vacations, financial security, pride, comfort, self-actualization. But if the kingdom of heaven is our treasure, while we do not stop living in this world, we will not live for this world. We will give ourselves to know the Lord, to love his people, to honor him in our families, to magnify him in all things. Even more, we will set our hearts on the kingdom to come. We will strive to spread the gospel. We will long for something far better than that dream vacation or that perfect house. We will long for the return of the Savior, for a world set right under his rule, for the final defeat of sin, and for the paradise that is eternity in the presence of the Almighty.

What do you treasure? Stop and think. What do you complain about not having? What do you worry yourself about getting? Where do you sacrifice time and energy to excel? Examine yourself and ask if your focus looks like that of a person who has sold off everything to buy the field in which is the treasure.

Honestly, as I write this, I’m not wanting to stir up a bunch of guilt in you or in me. Instead, I am wanting to remind us of the greater thing. Jesus is worth it. Jesus is the treasure. Knowing Jesus and glorifying Jesus for eternity is worth our lives in the here and now. The person who sells off his property to buy a field with a treasure is not regretting the loss of a single item. Instead, he is looking forward to the treasure to come. May we long for Jesus and for his kingdom to come like that. It is good. It is worth it.