The Value
How do you determine the value of something? How do you know if it is really valuable? Isn’t really a matter of perspective? And isn’t is also a matter of how rare something is?
The world’s most valuable jewel is called “The Hope Diamond”. It is a 45.52 carat blue stone. It’s unusual blue coloring comes from impurities caused by trace amounts of boron atoms. It is considered to be worth more than 350 million dollars.
This brings up a very interesting question:
How do YOU place value upon things?
The Meaning
In Matthew 13 Jesus gives His disciples a list of parables (stories with a meaning) about one thing; The Kingdom of God. He repeatedly says: “the kingdom of God is like…” He is trying to convey something which is extremely precious, valuable, and important to our God. That is, of course, His Kingdom!
But our Lord only gives us pictures and symbols to explain this most important thing. Why would He do this? Simple… He doesn’t want just anyone to be able to figure this thing out with their own human mind. The Kingdom is something beyond reason, the human mind, and the world system. The Lord made sure of that! Instead, He gave us parables.
The Costly Pearl
I’m only going to be covering one parable per blog post at this time. This post is to cover “The Pearl of Great Price”. There is so much involved with this story!
“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.” Matthew 13:45,46
Obviously, this “pearl” is the most valuable pearl ever found by anyone! But what exactly IS this pearl? Well, Jesus says that it is a picture of example of something called “the kingdom of heaven”. So, that leads us to the next question, which is, “what exactly is the kingdom of heaven?” Wow! That is the million dollar question, as they say.
The me, this “picture” of the kingdom of God is probably the most descriptive example of something Jesus called “the kingdom of heaven.” So, that leads us to the next question, which is, “what exactly is the kingdom of heaven?” Wow! That is the million dollar question, as they say.
To me, this “picture” of the kingdom is probably the most descriptive example of something Jesus called “The kingdom of God”. So, let’s a closer look at this picture that Jesus uses to explain the kingdom of God.
- Pearls are the only gem material formed and found within a living creature.
- Oysters and clams use the same stuff to make pearls as they use for their shells.
- Cost and Value – Priceless! His kingdom will cost you everything! The unseen is so much more valuable than the seen. Just think about it for a minute. What is more valuable; your car or the love of God? Your house; or peace of mind and heart?
- The Hidden Aspect of the Kingdom – a treasure buried in a field. According to the standards of this world system that live in this kingdom (of God) is invisible. It is spiritual. But the spiritual is much more real than the visible (physical) realm.
Then Jesus gives the disciples the parables of the Tares among the Wheat. The Mustard Seed, the Leaven, the Hidden Treasure and the Dragnet. But all of these “parables” speak about just one thing…
the kingdom of God!
But here is the most incredible, unbelievable, unstoppable, amazing fact in all of creation:
“CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY!”
However, the problem is that many Christians have no awareness of this most astonishing fact! Most of us agree with the statement: “Christ in you” but it is only theology and a religious idea that we read about in the New Testament.
But let me ask you… how has this wonderful glorious statement in scripture effected you in your day to day and minute by minute life?
Dear Saints of the living God. I must point out that most Christians pretty much live like the rest of the world. We grow up. We raise families. We go to work each day. We attend “church” and go to bible studies.
BUT… where is the life?
Where is the minute by minute fellowship with your Lord?
If you are a born-again Spirit filled believer in Jesus Christ then He, spiritually and quite literally, lives inside of you right now. But are you living this way? Are you having moment by moment fellowship with this incredible Lord Who lives within?
If your answer to these question is “no” then I may be able to help. I have just finished writing a book called: “Eyes Wide Open” in which I go into great detail about how you can learn to fellowship moment by moment with an indwelling Christ. If you are interested in getting a copy of this book simple send me a quick email and I will let you know when the book is released and how to order copies.
My email is: milt@therebuilders.org
Also, I have written several books to help with knowing the Lord in a deeper way and how to express that fellowship with other believers aka the Church.
This is where you can find information, book, articles, and audios:
Your brother in Christ,
Milt Rodriguez
The Blog of Milt Rodriguez 