Jump Start # 268
Mt 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
The parable of the pearl merchant is a fascinating story. It is tucked in a series of parables in this chapter that define and describe the nature of the God’s kingdom. As one scans these he gets the quick impression that God’s kingdom is much different than any other kingdom, period. Our parable is part of that description.
The merchant in this story dealt with pearls. He knew pearls. I expect he could hold one close to his eyes and immediately detect flaws that most of us would never notice. Buying and selling pearls was his business. He handled hundreds. He was always looking for that one perfect pear. In his pearl industry, he would have seen some very fine pearls, but still, never the perfect pearl. His eye was looking. Then one day he finds it. Perfect in color, shape, quality, but not price. It’s expensive. Very, very expensive. But he knows that it is worth it. He knows that he has been looking for this all of his life. Another like this will probably never be found. If we were telling the story today, we’d say that he borrowed and went into massive debt to get this. Not Jesus’ story. There was an exchange. He purchased it. But to do this, he had to sell all that he had.
Remember, this is a parable to teach a point. But for a moment, consider what would be involved in selling all that you own. I thought about that. There are my books. All my books, that I’ve collected my entire life. Golf clubs, ties, lots of ties, cars, drain the bank accounts, sell the house, get rid of all of it. Some things I’d never miss. Just stuff. Other things, have sentimental value and I’d have a hard time letting go of those things. Sell it all, just to purchase the one pearl. I’d be very scared and I think I’d be taken for a ride if I did that. This man knew pearls, I don’t. He knew what he was buying. He knew that it was worth more than all he had. He understood value.
And that last point is what Jesus is driving at. He sold all to get what he was finally looking for—although the story involves pearls, it’s about salvation. It’s finding what you can’t get after years and years in your career. It’s what you can’t find by reading the newspaper or staying up and watching TV. It’s not found in friendships or family. It’s not found in travel or going to the ballgames. Those all are fine but they contain flaws. Something is missing. They are not perfect. There is one perfect and that is Jesus Christ. The one that sees you with your flaws and still loves you. The one that knows what is racing through your heart and still loves you. The one that sees you dreaming of getting rich, becoming famous, having a family, getting married, traveling and knowing that those dreams aren’t what you really need. The one that sees you going from fad after fad and not finding the one pearl, Jesus. The one that sees us as being superficial and shallow and not spending much time thinking about the eternal, but longs for us to find Him. It’s about Jesus. It’s about salvation. The perfect Jesus. The sinless Jesus. The Lord of Heaven and earth.
It’s more than just going to church, it is the life changing devotion to the Lord. It is realizing that in Christ, through the Bible, I have found the greatest treasure of all. He will change my life, marriage, and future. He’s there. I have to find Him. I have to look for Him and when I find Him, I have to be willing to sell ALL—there is a price, it’s your heart. Jesus doesn’t want just your Sundays, He wants every day. He doesn’t want a few minutes in the morning, He wants your entire day. Sell all. Sell yourself. No more pride. No more me. No more, I don’t feel like it. No more, I don’t want to. No more, do I have to. Gone. Sold. No more selfishness. No more anger. No more bad habits. No more worldliness. No more defining life by stuff. Gone. I don’t know who would want to buy this stuff, but it’s sold, all of it.
And what do you get? One pearl. That’s it. That’s all. Not just any pearl, the pearl. The greatest pearl of all, Jesus Christ. To start, by believing and obeying Him, you get forgiveness. Try to buy that at the mall. With forgiveness, comes acceptance and adoption. You become God’s child. Someday you will live with God in His house, Heaven. But there’s more. You get purpose and value. You realize that you were made special and God wants you here right now. He made you just the way you are. With this pearl, we quit fighting that and use the talents we have to bring honor to God. But there’s still more. You receive a massive family, world wide, called God’s church—the saved. You become a part of that family. They are not perfect, like the one pearl, but they are trying. They love you and love God. They want the best from you. Together, we have a way of polishing each other and bringing out the best in each other. But wait, there’s still more. There’s prayer. Any time, any place, often the worst times and the worst places, you can reach God through Jesus. He’s never too busy, never out of the office, never gone for the day. In the hospital emergency room, at the funeral home, or late at night while lying on your pillow, my God, your God, is there, for you and wanting you to reach to Him. He’s there through the storms. He’s there during the bad days. He’s there in the crisis. When we think we are alone, He’s there. There’s still more. The power of the word of God, and the fact that God works through you. He uses you to be His hands, His feet and His voice. And the best of all, this relationship doesn’t end. Death doesn’t stop it. It only gets better and better through the years. The value of this pearl increases.
The pearl merchant knew what he found. It was worth all that he had. Have you realized what there is in Jesus Christ? He wants one thing from you, your all. Once you’ve made the trade, there’s no need to consider trading back—nothing is worth what you have found in Jesus. He’s the greatest.
It’s great to be a Christian!
Roger