Pearls and Treasures

¨Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a traveling merchant seeking fine pearls.¨  Matthew 13:45 (Reference Bible)

Matthew 44 to 46 tells us the words Jesus used to describe a peculiar point about the treasures found in the Spiritual Realm.  Jesus uses the analogies of a merchant seeking fine pearls and a man discovering a treasure in a field.  But the emphasis is not upon these fictitious men, but rather upon the attitude they had once they had found the wonderful treasure.

We Christians love to read and to share these parables.  When we hear them and contemplate them, we do so with a sensation of fondness.  However, how often do we place ourselves within the picture?  How many hours (or minutes) have we spent comparing the reaction of the men in the stories to our own experience?

Not a great stretch of the mind is needed to realize that Jesus was describing an attitude within the true Christian, that when one discovers Christ and the good news of His kingdom, all else loses value for them and they happily give up everything so as to have Christ for themselves.

It may go something like this, we are going through the field of life minding our own business, when all of a sudden we stumble across the great treasure of the presence of Jesus.  Immediately the discovery completely outweighs all else we have in our lives.  So we hurry off to get rid of all the other things that we had before in life so that we can make the great purchase and have Jesus for our treasure, field and all.

With the traveling merchant it is the same, there is a complete abandonment of the former to have access to the new and greater treasure.

Are we describing ourselves here?  Where do our faces appear in these stories?  Are we still clinging on to loved ones, reputation, possessions or the career?  There are so many things that perhaps we do not want to sell off.  We cannot stand to part with this thing or that.

What is our problem?  Do we not see that the treasure found in Jesus is immeasurably greater than all the other things we have in our lives?

Perhaps when we read these parables about the kingdom of heaven, we should resist the urge to appreciate them for their poetic beauty and the warm feeling they bring.  Maybe we should let them bring us to our knees and seek even more intently our personal contact with Jesus.

He made the effort, He shared these secrets of His kingdom.  Now it falls to us, to imitate, compare, and if we are honest enough, to place our very selves inside those stories.

Dear Lord, we have heard your description of how it is with your kingdom and the way in which a true believer should receive that great treasure.  Please help us today to make our own lives resemble that of the men you described there.  We would like to be so taken up with the treasure we have found, that we do not hesitate to exchange and offer up all that we have, so that we may be able to attain You and Your kingdom. Help us to become in living experience, those men You spoke of in Your stories.

In Your name and for Your glory we pray,

Amen

Scott W