“What are We Searching For?”
Matthew 13:44-46
What do you long to see and experience more than anything else in the entire world?
Have you ever thought to yourself: “I would give anything for that?”
If so, what was it or what is it?
For instance, would you give anything to see all racial divisions erased?
Or would you give anything to see all hungry people fed?
Would you give anything see all wars come to an end?
Would you give anything to see all children taken care of, all Christians united, all persons living with mental illness given peace of mind?
And how about hatred?
Would you give anything to eradicate hatred from our world?
Would you give anything to stop people from hurting one another?
Would you give anything in order to end all suffering?
And would you give it joyfully—without a thought about the cost?
It’s been said that when we are “swept up with the longing for an end to violence, suffering, and destruction, we may very well find ourselves giving up everything in order to experience salvation in Christ.
And when we find other people who are ready to let go of whatever holds them back from being a part of God’s Movement in the world—we find Church!!!”
I think that’s pretty cool.
No matter how simple the two parables we just read may seem, there is much depth to them.
Think about this for a minute.
God gave up everything in order to get rid of evil.
God gave up everything in order to save what God loves—human beings, the people He created in His image.
God came down from heaven.
He became one of us.
He endured the difficulties of this life, temptation, pain…
…all the things that go along with being a human in a broken world.
He wept for His friends.
He mourned over the death of a loved one.
He taught us what is important in life—to love God and to love other people.
He showed us, by example, how we are to live our lives.
He showed us that God is love, and that God is merciful, forgiving and, again, head over heals in love with every human.
He humbled Himself.
And, ultimately, He died so that we may live.
And listen to how the author of the letter to the Hebrews describes it: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.”
“For the joy set before him”…
Jesus gave up everything—even His very life—for “the joy” of saving human kind—of bringing redemption to you and to me.
Of recapturing His “treasure hidden in a field”…
Of buying back His “pearl of great value.”
The Kingdom of heaven is like—that!!!
God’s love is like that!!!
Salvation is given at such a price.
It cost God everything to save us, restore us, bring us back to Himself.
It cost God everything to set things right.
And God gave all God had for this joy of saving you and me and all who will believe.
Now what does that have to do with these two parables we just read this morning?
Well, is not what God has done for us—when we are able to comprehend it—when we get a grasp on it—when we are able to believe it—when we “stumble upon it” so to speak the greatest treasure in all the world?
Isn’t it worth giving up everything else in order to obtain?
“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.”
With “joy” he sells all he has in order to buy that field so that he may have that treasure which is the Kingdom of God—the salvation Jesus Christ gave His all for in order for us to obtain.
Salvation and living a life of love is the greatest treasure in all the world.
And giving everything we have in order to be in relationship with Jesus Christ—with our Creator is the greatest joy.
It completely transforms our lives.
Notice how quickly the man in the parable went and sold all he had to buy that field?
When we do something “in joy” it is not a burden.
It is not a sacrifice—it is a “joy.”
Augustine, when commenting on his moment of salvation, of faith, of decision said this: “What I feared to be parted from, was now a joy to part with.”
When we give everything in order to follow Christ, the sacrifice we make is really no sacrifice at all.
It’s not some sad and mournful thing we feel like we “have to do.”
NO!!!
“It is all we want to do—it is our joy!!!”
What would you give to experience this kind of joy?
What would you give in order to live the life God planned in advance for you to live?
What would you give to be part of God’s Movement, God’s Kingdom on this earth?
What would you give in order to be in mission with God—to live a life that operates on love rather than greed and selfishness?
Would you give everything?
There was a man in the gospels who was given this very opportunity.
He is usually referred to as “the rich young man” or the “rich young ruler.”
We find his story in Mark Chapter 10, Matthew Chapter 19 and Luke Chapter 18.
He comes running up to Jesus.
He is so excited to have “stumbled upon Him.”
And he asks Jesus: “what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
After a brief conversation, Jesus tells him that there is one thing: “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
But unlike the parable of the treasure hidden in the field, the rich young man does not “in his joy” go and sell all his possessions and give to the poor in order to follow Jesus.
No.
We are told, instead, that when he heard what we call the Good News, “he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
In other words, he loved his wealth more than being part of God’s Kingdom, God’s Movement—more than he wanted to live a life which operates on love for God and neighbor.
He was offered the opportunity of all opportunities—and instead of receiving it he turned it down.
He chose the world over Christ.
He chose things over people.
He chose selfishness over love.
He chose hell over heaven.
And he went away sad.
Is there anything that is getting in the way of your ability to follow Jesus?
Is there anything you will not let go of in order to live life in the Kingdom and be a part of God’s great Mission in the world?
If so, what is it?
Is it worth missing out on life for?
These parables are the Gospel in short.
Think about it.
Following Christ means total commitment.
It means freeing ourselves from those obstacles that entangle us and glue our feet and our hearts to this earth.
Remember what the first disciples did when Jesus called them?
They left everything, immediately.
They left their boats, their nets, their livelihood in order to follow Jesus.
Matthew even left his tax collector’s booth.
The call of Christ is a call to go in a different direction, toward a different goal.
It is a freeing of oneself in order to serve and love in joy.
And, when we really think about it, what are we giving up anyway?
Think of the parable of the Pearl.
We’ve got this merchant who is looking for fine pearls.
He’s already got lots of pearls.
And he’s not satisfied.
He hasn’t found the one that is worthwhile yet.
And so he continues his search.
It’s kind of like the person who is seeking God, and has gone down many different roads in order to find Him.
Or it’s like a person who is seeking happiness.
He or she has tried so many things—the accumulation of wealth, drugs—perhaps, worldly pleasures, selfish pursuits—but none of these things satisfy.
And so the looking, the searching continues…
…until…
…until one day he or she finds the Good News of Christ.
Until one day when it all makes sense.
Until one day when the gift of faith comes knocking on the door.
And on that day, he or she has found what they have always been searching for!!!
And so, they go and dump everything else in order to follow the One Who offers the faith, the new life, the salvation, the way, the truth, the life—the pearl of great value.
When the Apostle Paul talks about what he gave up in order to follow Jesus, he doesn’t talk about sacrifice.
He doesn’t mourn over what he lost.
--even though he is now sitting in a Roman prison.
Instead, he writes in Philippians Chapter 3: “whatever was my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
I consider them rubbish…”
When we stumble upon the treasure hidden in the field or seek and find the Pearl of Great Value—will we, in our JOY give anything and everything in order to have it?
Or, will we turn and walk away sad because we are unwilling to part with the filthy rags of this world?
God gave His all in order that we might have the treasure, the pearl of great price.
He is offering you and He is offering me—His Kingdom in exchange for whatever junk we are clinging to.
What will we choose?
Will we come--in joy--and follow Him?
