One time, Brother Jun was walking on the streets of Binondo. He then saw a ring on the sidewalk. But, it looked like an imitation jewelry. Nonetheless, he picked it up, brought it home and gave it to his wife, Sister Yvette. It remained in her jewelry box for about two years. Later on, she had it appraised. She was so surprised to learn that that ring is actually an expensive piece of jewelry. It’s a good thing Brother Jun did not toss it out! Something that he thought worthless is actually something that is of immense worth. Just the other day, I thought that would make a good introduction for my message today. So, I texted him to get his permission to share the story and also to ask how much is the estimated value of the ring. I just couldn’t believe the amount that I read in his reply.
Now, before you rush outside looking for a ring on the streets, allow me to share the story about two persons who also found something of great value. Let us open our Bibles to Matthew 13:44-46. “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.”[1]
At this point in the public ministry of our Lord Jesus, persecution from His enemies was slowly but surely accelerating. His disciples felt the heat. They left everything to follow the Lord. Instead of seeing a momentum for the kingdom, they saw a mob growing against Jesus. Probably, doubts crept into their hearts. “Is it really worth it to obey the Lord? Did I make the right decision to leave everything for His sake?” Our Lord wisely met with them privately and told them the parable of the lost treasure and the parable of the pearl of great price. He assured them that when they gave up everything for Him, they did not really lose it all and they did not really lose at all. They even gained when they gave it all up. This morning, we will talk about “Giving Up To Gain.”
Before we dive into the passage itself, let me lay a basic guideline in understanding what came to be labeled as “earthly stories with heavenly meanings.” Every story has a moral lesson. Every joke has a punch line. Every parable has one main point. That’s what we seek to discover when we study a parable. Look for that one, big idea. So, always ask, “What’s the main point of the parable?”
Basically, the two parables told about the discovery of something valuable and the decision to give up everything to gain the valuable find. But it is not just a case of “finder’s keepers, losers weepers.” The Lord did not condone or condemn the behavior of the merchant who found the pearl or the man who stumbled upon the hidden treasure. Isn’t that the way we would react when we find a good buy? When you rummage in a garage sale, we do the same thing. When we see something costly that is sold for a bargain price, we grab it immediately. We don’t usually say, “You know, you should have priced it higher for what it’s worth.” If the person selling the precious item were our friend, maybe we would do that. Otherwise, we would even put on a poker face and try to negotiate for an even lower price. The Lord is focusing our attention on the attitude and not on the action.
Let’s highlight some portions of the parables. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field... Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.” Note the word, “Again.” That shows that the two parables are connected to each other. Twice, the Lord repeated the words, “kingdom of heaven.” So, the parables are talking about how valuable the kingdom of God is. That it is like a great treasure or a very rare pearl.
Now, what is the kingdom of God? Was Jesus referring to heaven or to that time in the future when Jesus would reign here on earth? Was He referring to His reign in our lives today? I believe the kingdom of God involves the present and the future, His reign both here on earth and there in heaven. In Matthew 6:10, Jesus taught us to pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Note that the phrase “your kingdom” parallels the phrase “your will.” The kingdom of God is His will done on earth as it is in heaven. A kingdom implies a king. Last Friday, in the Passion Manila event, Brother Louie Giglio said, “We can only say, ‘Yes, Lord!’ If He is really our Lord, we can only say ‘Yes’ to Him. We can’t say ‘No, Lord!’ or ‘Later, Lord!’ or ‘Maybe, Lord!’” The question now is, “Would you really dare to say, ‘Yes, Lord’? Would you really pray, ‘Your will be done in my life’?”
The kingdom of heaven is described as a “treasure hidden in the field”. People during those times bury their valuables in the field rather than in their houses. It was to keep them from robbers. In times of war, it was to keep them from being looted by the invading forces. The problem was when the owner dies without revealing the treasure’s location to somebody. It might get lost for many generations. The kingdom is also described as a “pearl of great value” or, in the King James Version, “pearl of great price”.
There is such a thing as REAL value. In Matthew 16:26 we read, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Even the world is not enough for our lives. There are more important things in life than, for example, our careers. No one at their deathbed wished that they had more money. No, I don’t think they even wished that they were not leaving enough money for the family. No dying person would have wished that they had spent more time in the office or that they had more money in the bank. A person facing death suddenly realizes his real priorities in life. He finally sees what’s really important. What is valuable to you? Is what you value really valuable?
I pray that we value what God values. Look at what Romans 12:2 says: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We are to value the will of God, to obey what He wants for our lives. It is really valuable for it is “his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
What are you doing to gain that which is valuable? Jesus teaches us that when we find something of so much value, we REALIZE that what we have is nothing compared to it. The Lord taught us that when the man found the hidden treasure, he “went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Suddenly, all that he had become insignificant compared to the treasure. When the merchant found the pearl of great price, “he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Now everything he had become insufficient for him.
One member shared to me that a friend told him recently to his face, “Don’t preach to me. I enjoy my life.” I just wonder what kind of life he was talking about. Obeying God is the life that is truly life. Yes, sin is pleasurable. Otherwise, why would people sin? But sin is never really satisfying. It is never really fulfilling. We call that the law of diminishing return. The more you pursue pleasure for pleasure’s sake, the less enjoyment you get from it. Solomon has a word for that. “Emptiness.” Yes, sin is enjoyable. But, when the feeling of emptiness hits you, you would not even remember the pleasure that you felt when you sinned. Only the things in life that are truly valuable give lasting delight. If we only knew how delightful it is to obey God. When we obey Him, everything else pales in comparison.
Second, when we find something of so much value, we RESOLVE to even give up everything just to gain it. Note that the man sold “all” he had for the treasure and the merchant sold “everything” he had for the pearl. They saw that what they will get in return is more than what they own at present. That’s a sound investment. My wife Ellen would often say, “You give up something you want for something you want more.”
That’s why I am not only talking against sin when I talk about obedience. There are things in life that are not sinful by nature. In fact, they are even good things. But life is not just a choice between good and bad. It is also a choice between what is good, better and best.
For example, a relationship is good. I am not talking about affairs. I am talking about a relationship between a single man and a single woman. But, if that relationship does not please God, if that relationship leads you to sin against Him, if it so occupies your heart that your life revolves around that relationship with that person rather than your relationship with God, then you have to give it up. Let me simplify. Young people, you may think it is a sweet thing to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. But, if that relationship conflicts with your studies, you better ask yourself. What’s your priority at this time? Your studies! Which is more important at this point in your life? I believe it is God’s will for you to finish your studies first.
Third, when we find something of so much value, we RELISH the experience of great joy even before we gain it. What drove the man who found the treasure to sell everything? Jesus said, “then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Note the words “in his joy”. Even before he bought it, he already felt excited.
I mentored a person before. His name is Cesar. He was a machine operator in a plastic factory. Life was hard. He and his wife could barely make both ends meet. Both of them volunteers in the church that I first pastored. One time, his company offered Cesar a promotion. It would increase his take home pay. Maybe it would improve their way of life. But, he took stock of the time involved in that promotion. He realized it would cause him to spend more time in his work than his family and the church. At that time, he and his wife didn’t have a child. Also, Cesar served as an elder of the church, assisting me in shepherding the members. He made a choice. He turned down the promotion. He needed the money. But he found greater joy in giving more time to his family and serving in the church. Now, he is one of the pastors of that church. God also blessed he and his wife with a lovely daughter. You may disagree with actions. God may have a different calling for you. But you have to agree with me that he knows his priorities well.
Brothers and sisters, I pray that we would value what God wants above all to the point of giving up everything to gain it. Someone wrote, “The central truth concerning the kingdom, then, is that its value is so great that no sacrifice or effort should be considered too great to obtain it. Its worth far outweighs any cost or inconvenience it might involve.”[2]
Let us pray…
[1]All Bible verses are from the New International Version, unless otherwise noted.
[2]Stanley Ellisen, “Parables in the Eye of the Storm.”
