THE PRIZE OF SALVATION
Text: Matthew 13:44-46
Just recently, people came from all over the United States into our area and state to see the eclipse. There are some, like me, whose view of the eclipse was probably obscured by the clouds. There were many others who paid the top dollar for hotels for a small glimpse of time when the eclipse was visible. When we get gypped, we can often blame it on a bad bill of goods that did not represent a reasonable price and or a genuine item. No doubt that seeing the eclipse of 2017 was quite an experience, but it was not worth being cheated in pricing that would be fair. Did greed eclipse good character in the local hotel businesses who engaged in profiteering?
What about the business transactions that we read about in these two parables in Matthew 13:44- 46? Were they fair transactions? In the case of the hidden treasure in a field, there are many in today’s world who would call attorney Bill Green, or attorney George Sink or some other well known lawyer who guarantees a good return for their services. What about the pearl?
How about you? Would you sell everything you owned to possess the hidden treasure or the pearl?
These two parables tell of 2 people who found the treasure of the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. The merchant’s search for the pearl was intentional. The man’s discovery of the treasure was by accident. Yet, both were, sacrificing all that they had in order to purchase their find. In these 2 parables we see the purpose, purchase and possession.
THE PURPOSE
Why do people love scavenger hunts? 1) Competition: Do we love scavenger hunts because of the competition factor or the excitement of finding- the-things-on-the-list factor? Or do we like both factors? 2) Coveted prize: How many of you dug your hand through a cereal box for the prize within when nobody was watching when you were a child? Did we do that because we did not want our parents to catch us? Or, did we do that because we wanted to beat our siblings to the prize?
What is the purpose---desired outcome of the search? 1) Materialism: There are people from all walks of life who will seek to gain the praise of others by their status symbols---expensive cars, houses, clothes, jewelry like Rolex watches. For every status symbol that people desire, there is always someone who produces counterfeit goods. 2) Satisfaction: How many people do you know who are not satisfied? Consider Isaiah 55:2: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" (RSV). 1) Let’s consider the words of one of Shakespeare’s characters named Gartiano who says the search is worthless: “…two grains of what are hid in two bushels of chaff shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search.” (The Merchant of Venice. I.i, 141).
ILLUSTRATION: The late comedian and actor Chris Farley thought that once he had his acting and comedian career going that he would have it made. He thought that show business and all that goes with it, fame and money in the bank, would help him reach that place where as he said, "the laws of the universe would not apply". He also noted that philosophy was false because he "still had to work on relationships and battle his weight and other demons as well". It was unfortunate that he died at the age of 33 with a drug habit. (Craig Brian Larson. Choice Contemporary Stories & Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1998, p. 251). The only real way that anyone can have peace with himself or herself is through a relationship with God. Matthew 6:21 says: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (NIV). Matthew 6:33 says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (NIV). How many people do you know that are searching for the “fool’s gold” that this world offers?
Remember the saying “finders, keepers, losers, weepers?” HISTORY: According to William Barclay, “Palestine was a land of wars”. (W. Barclay. And Jesus Said.) Philadelphia: Westmister Press, 1970 p. 67). A Man’s garden might become a battle ground. His house might become looted in the process. Therefore, the best measure of security in that day was to hide one’s valuables in the ground. (p.67). The principles of the Jewish Talmud held that if someone found something, then it was considered his or hers. (Barclay p.68). It was much like a saying that I heard when a child: “Finders, keepers, losers, weepers.” The man who bought the field discovered its treasure within by accident. He was not looking for it. The field in which he found the treasure was not even his property. He went to by the field because of the treasure within it.
Is the pearl worth the search? 1) Economy of time and resources: Many have found the object of their search only to realize that the prize the searched for was a gyp. 2) The pearl’s value: In the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry the pearl’s value was much the same way we value diamonds today. HISTORY: “Throughout history, pearls were greatly desired gemstones by royalty, merchants, explorers and traders. … The Romans greatly revered pearls, and decreed that only men and women of high birth would be able to wear them. During a brief period of the British Empire, pearls were also reserved exclusively for royalty and nobility. This policy appeared to have reigned throughout most of history, although not necessarily by regal decree. The cost of pearls was so high that most ordinary people were simply unable to afford them.” . http://www.purepearls.com/pearl-origins.html Pearls come from a grain of sand that irritate oysters that eventually become a pearl because of the way that oysters respond to that injury that forms the pearl. 3) Salvation: This treasure of the pearl is priceless, because it symbolically represents the price Jesus paid on the cross. By Jesus’ stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5)! When it comes to our price, Jesus paid it all!
Jesus wants us to give up the things that hinder us from having this treasure. Jesus wants us to turn from relationships when they hinder us from this treasure. Jesus also wants us to turn from the worship of things---the “vain world’s golden store and each idol that would keep us”, (from the third verse of the hymn “Jesus Calls Us”) to receive this treasure.
THE PURCHASE
Who does not like bargain shopping? 1) Bargain shopping: When we think about purchasing something, we often think about getting the best product at the best price. We look forward to those back-to-school sales and the “no tax weekends” for those sales. 2) Appraisals: “Oscar Wilde once said, “Americans know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Price is the cost you have to pay to get something you want. Value is what something is really worth.” (Richard Carl Hoefler . The Divine Trap. Lima, Ohio: The C.S.S. Publishing Co., 1980, p. 51). Therefore, when someone talks about their prized possession they may talk about the price that they paid for it but their perception is based on value and not cost. What is it that we as Christians value?
Is this treasure is priceless, because of the price Jesus paid on the cross? Why is that even relevant? 1) History: Don’t we treasure because of the valuable lessons it teaches us? There are some who would like nothing more than to wipe out the parts of history that they do not like. Just consider all the latest defacing of historical monuments. Some must think, “remove the monument equates with editing history”.
2) Economy: How many of us truly take it one day at a time? Remember these two scriptures? Matthew 6:21 says: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (NIV). Matthew 6:33 says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (NIV). We cannot always trust that our leaders have been wise in how they have borrowed, poorly invested and squandered money at our expense! They have been irresponsible stewards! The debt clock is a testimony to that! Our leaders need to learn that we cannot serve both God and money because money cannot save us for eternity (Matthew 6:24)! Their denial is like an iceberg an iceberg that is going to sink everybody onboard! Money can ruin us if we let it become our master instead of God (I Timothy 6:10)!
3) Salvation history: Long before the current conflict of historical monuments, there were people in every generation who wanted to edit salvation history which is based on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The cross has always been an object of rejection for by scoffers who do not understand what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary. Do people want to remove the meaning of the cross when our Savior died there for both His friends as well as His enemies? Remember John 3:16?
ILLUSTRATION: There is the story of a famous preacher who told of how he fed pigs as a boy. He mentioned how he would pour out a basket of corn to the pigs. He mentioned how one of the pigs grabbed an ear of corn and took off running desperately causing other pigs to think he had what was bigger and better as they ran after him. While chasing this runaway pig, the other pigs were leaving “scores” of corn lying on the ground. He mentioned how we like the pigs and their pig-philosophy get taken worldly things. (Clovis G. Chappell. Sermons From The Parables. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1933, p. 68). Does this philosophy not echo those who followed Lucifer and his fate of being cast out of heaven? Does this philosophy not echo things that happen in every generation?
THE POSSESSION OF THE PRIZE
Is possession of this prize supposed to be fire insurance? 1) Relationship: Is salvation supposed to be fire insurance or a relationship? 2) Rote: It is possible to be a member of the church and not be saved! That seems to be why Jesus had so many problems with the Pharisees. Consider Matthew 23:27-28: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. (28) So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (ESV). If ever there was a Biblical illustration of leaders who acted as if salvation was fire insurance, that it is the Pharisees!
There are people who feel as though more money would mean more power. 1) Wealthy but indifferent: Remember, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31)? 2) Wealthy but owned by things: Jesus once talked with a man who could not part with his wealth. The man asked Jesus what he must do to receive eternal life. Jesus answered him and perceiving that he was a wealthy man he said, go and sell that you have “…and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21 NIV). The man walked away sad because we was wealthy. Again, it is not what we have that matters, it’s whom we serve as master money or God; because “…no man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).
What does true wealth look like in God’s eyes? True wealth that comes from God has nothing to do with money. True wealth from God has to do with an abundant life (John 10:10) and the gift of salvation in the here and now and the gift of eternal life in the herafter life hereafter in eternity. God want us to spend our lives loving Him with all of our soul, mind, strength and heart and to love our neighbors as ourselves. 1) For our sake: 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV). 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (ESV). 2) For the world: John 3:16: “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Have you had your grace transfusion? ILLUSTRATION: Former Coach Bobby Bowden tells the story of some two Asian children during the Vietnam War. There was a little girl---a sister who was in need of a blood transfusion to save her life. They could not find an adult who had a matching blood type so they turned to her brother. Doctors asked the boy, “Are you willing to give blood to save your sister’s life?” The boy said he would do anything to save his sister’s life. The boy began to cry when they put the needle in his arm. They asked why he was crying. The boy asked “Will it hurt when I die?” (Bobby Bowden. Called To Coach. New York: Howard Books, 2010, p. 207). Jesus gave His life to save ours on the cross. We call it grace!
Have you had your grace transfusion?
How do we invest in this treasure---this pearl? Jesus tells us how we can continually invest our lives in this treasure---the gift that will keep on giving. Jesus told us to pick up our crosses and follow Him! Eph 2:8-9 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The joy of heaven’s treasures is something that every Christian looks forward too, when they have finished their course in the faith or as other versions of the Bible say the race (II Timothy 4:7). For every Christian wants to pass the pearly gates and walk the streets of gold that are mentioned in Revelation 21:21.
How are we planning and building for eternity? I once heard a story that resembled a parable. It seems that a wealthy woman passed away and went to heaven. When she was looking for her mansion, St Peter led her to a tent. She looked puzzled as she said, “I don’t understand.” St. Peter responded, “You did no send us much to build with.” How do we treasure the gift of God’s salvation? We tend to live out what we believe. Where our treasure is our hearts will be also (Matthew 6:21). Life is not a dress rehearsal!
CONCLUSION
The main point of this parable is about how valuable the gift of salvation is. Satan wants to create any kind of eclipse that he can in order to blind you and gyp you of this most precious gift! Whether it is something that someone found by accident or something that someone was actively seeking, the gift of salvation is priceless. These men invested all they had to get the land with hidden treasure and the pearl that they had valued as priceless. What are we investing in God’s kingdom? How well are we helping others to find this priceless treasure---God’s gift of salvation? God wants us to share the Gospel with others. Others will be influenced by our investment in this prize of salvation! In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
