The Matchless Value of the Kingdom
January 16
The Matchless Value of the Kingdom
by Jeff Hubing
(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.”
-Matthew 13:44-46
Sometimes it’s easy to gloss over Jesus’ parables because we think we’ve got the point, and we’re ready to move on to something “deeper.” I’m sure I’ve read these two brief sayings of Jesus hundreds of times over the course of my life. I do feel that I’ve ‘heard’ one central component of the message very clearly – that the Kingdom’s value is worth giving up everything else we possess. But today, I’m challenged to consider something else that Jesus says about the manner in which that sacrifice was made. Let me explain…
It’s important to remember that the parables are stories meant to illustrate truth. They don’t always describe the way things are in actual terms. For instance, no matter how much you “sell,” you can’t literally buy access to the Kingdom. It’s a gift. No matter how much land you buy, you won’t literally find the Kingdom underground out back somewhere. It’s not an item to be stored on a shelf or in a barn.
The point of Jesus sayings here is that the value of possessing the Kingdom is so great, that even if it means the loss of everything else, it’s a bargain.
I think that theologically, we’re happy to agree with this. Because, what could be more valuable than the knowledge of God, the presence of Christ, the restoration of our relationship with Him, the guarantee of an eternal future marked by peace, love and complete satisfaction? The list of blessings connected to the Kingdom could go on and on…
But, practically, what happens when we start to deal with the implications of this story…what does it mean to “sell everything we have”? Can you start working through what that would look like for you? What if TODAY, you had to sell EVERY SINGLE POSSESSION – your home (and all your appliances, furniture, TV, etc.), your car, your phone, your computer/gaming system, your clothing (perhaps you could keep what you’re wearing now?!), your books, your musical instruments… I mean… ALL of it?
Some of these things maybe we’d quickly part with. Other things, though, we’ve worked hard for. These are things for which we’ve saved up, scraped funds together, or maybe even continue to pay on a monthly basis! :) What if all you had left at the end of TODAY was your access to the Kingdom and everything else that you could describe as “yours” was just GONE? How would you feel? Do you sense that there would be any regret hanging over you? Are you aware of anything that would trouble you and cause you to question whether it was all worth it?
There’s a word in this passage that brings so much conviction when I read it, but also hope. The word is found in verse 44: JOY. As I was working through this inventory of “all that I have”, I’m not sure that “joy” is the word I would use to describe my feelings about parting with some of it. But, the man in verse 44 is different. His approach to offloading his worldly possessions was marked by this kind of internal delight. Talk about a gut check.
His joy came from his confidence – his genuine conviction that what he was about to possess was worth the loss of everything else. He saw the true value of what he found. And, in that light, everything else would be happily sacrificed.
Conviction comes when I realize that there are “things” in my life that I would not necessarily be “happy” to part with. That is an eye-opener that invites repentance and humility.
But, the word “joy” here also sparks hope in me. I feel hopeful because the same reality that marked the man in verse 44 can also mark me – that’s one of the reasons the story is in Scripture! It can mark me if I am able to truly “see” the treasure that is the Kingdom of God. If I see the Kingdom clearly, I’ll be free to loosen my grip on “things” and take delight in whatever is laid down for the sake of Jesus’ loving rule.
Freedom doesn’t just come from directly resisting the things that entangle us…it comes by seeing clearly and fully the One Thing that can loosen the grip of ALL things that seek to sink their hooks into our souls.
The value of God’s Kingdom is matchless. May He open our eyes in this season to perceive it, and so to be liberated from anything else that demands our loyalty. May our joy be full as we surrender everything for Jesus’ sake.
The Matchless Value of the Kingdom
by Jeff Hubing
(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.”
-Matthew 13:44-46
Sometimes it’s easy to gloss over Jesus’ parables because we think we’ve got the point, and we’re ready to move on to something “deeper.” I’m sure I’ve read these two brief sayings of Jesus hundreds of times over the course of my life. I do feel that I’ve ‘heard’ one central component of the message very clearly – that the Kingdom’s value is worth giving up everything else we possess. But today, I’m challenged to consider something else that Jesus says about the manner in which that sacrifice was made. Let me explain…
It’s important to remember that the parables are stories meant to illustrate truth. They don’t always describe the way things are in actual terms. For instance, no matter how much you “sell,” you can’t literally buy access to the Kingdom. It’s a gift. No matter how much land you buy, you won’t literally find the Kingdom underground out back somewhere. It’s not an item to be stored on a shelf or in a barn.
The point of Jesus sayings here is that the value of possessing the Kingdom is so great, that even if it means the loss of everything else, it’s a bargain.
I think that theologically, we’re happy to agree with this. Because, what could be more valuable than the knowledge of God, the presence of Christ, the restoration of our relationship with Him, the guarantee of an eternal future marked by peace, love and complete satisfaction? The list of blessings connected to the Kingdom could go on and on…
But, practically, what happens when we start to deal with the implications of this story…what does it mean to “sell everything we have”? Can you start working through what that would look like for you? What if TODAY, you had to sell EVERY SINGLE POSSESSION – your home (and all your appliances, furniture, TV, etc.), your car, your phone, your computer/gaming system, your clothing (perhaps you could keep what you’re wearing now?!), your books, your musical instruments… I mean… ALL of it?
Some of these things maybe we’d quickly part with. Other things, though, we’ve worked hard for. These are things for which we’ve saved up, scraped funds together, or maybe even continue to pay on a monthly basis! :) What if all you had left at the end of TODAY was your access to the Kingdom and everything else that you could describe as “yours” was just GONE? How would you feel? Do you sense that there would be any regret hanging over you? Are you aware of anything that would trouble you and cause you to question whether it was all worth it?
There’s a word in this passage that brings so much conviction when I read it, but also hope. The word is found in verse 44: JOY. As I was working through this inventory of “all that I have”, I’m not sure that “joy” is the word I would use to describe my feelings about parting with some of it. But, the man in verse 44 is different. His approach to offloading his worldly possessions was marked by this kind of internal delight. Talk about a gut check.
His joy came from his confidence – his genuine conviction that what he was about to possess was worth the loss of everything else. He saw the true value of what he found. And, in that light, everything else would be happily sacrificed.
Conviction comes when I realize that there are “things” in my life that I would not necessarily be “happy” to part with. That is an eye-opener that invites repentance and humility.
But, the word “joy” here also sparks hope in me. I feel hopeful because the same reality that marked the man in verse 44 can also mark me – that’s one of the reasons the story is in Scripture! It can mark me if I am able to truly “see” the treasure that is the Kingdom of God. If I see the Kingdom clearly, I’ll be free to loosen my grip on “things” and take delight in whatever is laid down for the sake of Jesus’ loving rule.
Freedom doesn’t just come from directly resisting the things that entangle us…it comes by seeing clearly and fully the One Thing that can loosen the grip of ALL things that seek to sink their hooks into our souls.
The value of God’s Kingdom is matchless. May He open our eyes in this season to perceive it, and so to be liberated from anything else that demands our loyalty. May our joy be full as we surrender everything for Jesus’ sake.