“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.” —Matthew 13:44-46
The question of the day appears to be: Is Christ worth all to us? Is He above the “pearls” of our profession, our possessions, and our people? Do we search for Him as the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price? Do we desire to go deeper still in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus and in our relationship with Him?
This, of course, was the goal Paul pressed on to achieve:
“But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ. More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things—indeed, I regard them as dung!—that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this—that is, I have not already been perfected—but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 3:7-14
Do you sense the passion in Paul’s words? The striving, the pressing onward, the focus on the goal? Paul’s words demonstrate he believed he had by no means reached the final stage of his sanctification. He knew he still had more spiritual heights to climb. This was Paul! He had been a believer for 30 years when he wrote this and had won many spiritual battles and grown greatly in the faith. I do not believe I am exaggerating when I say modern-day believers would be hard pressed to find someone who could fills his shoes. There will never be a time in our spiritual life where we are in a stalemate or reach a plateau regarding our spiritual growth.
Jesus Christ is to be our true treasure! In Him we find understanding, knowledge, wisdom, power, mercy, and grace. He is of unspeakable value and worth. In Him our cups are not only filled, they run over. Mere words can never do Him justice. He is the God of ultimate sufficiency when we allow Him to fill our aching souls. That is His desire. He longs for us to be complete in Him. That is what we have been created for.
“[Jesus] is that one pearl of great price, in comparison of whom all other goodly things that men desire are worthless. Without him we are poor and miserable, though we abound in all manner of worldly store; but if we have found him and discovered the excellency of his name, we are in possession of a treasure that makes us rich indeed, and have reason to be content with our portion, though stripped of every earthly comfort; for the Father gives grace and glory, even eternal life, in his Son Jesus Christ; and he that hath the Son of God hath life. Oh, my soul, thou, like the merchantman, hast been seeking goodly pearls, and eagerly looking here and there for happiness all thy days. Hast thou, at length, been enlightened to perceive where true joys are to be found? Then wilt thou be willing to sell all in order to win Christ, and be found in him; if there is anything that thou art unwilling to part with for his sake, thou knowest not his value, thou art not worthy of him.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” —Colossians 1:15-20
Become More
“For when I am to you more precious than all else; when I have become more real to you than all else; and when you love Me more than you love any other, then shall you know complete satisfaction. Your peace shall flow as a river, and your joy shall overflow as a fountain, and My glory shall be poured out as the fragrant anointing oil upon all your other relationships.” —Frances L. Roberts
Further Reflection
“If religion is worth anything, it is worth everything. They who do not like Christ on these terms, may leave him at their peril. Whatever we part with for this pearl of price, we may comfort ourselves with this belief, that it is well worth what we give for it. The terms are, that we prefer Christ.” —Matthew Henry