Of Greater Value

In the last post, we talked about how greatly we are valued in God’s eyes. How much He loves us and wants us to be with Him, proving it by sending His Son to die in our place. So, this week I’d like to talk about something of greater value. Something worth giving EVERYTHING up for….. Jesus Himself.

Jesus tells us what the Kingdom of Heaven is like in these parables: “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.” (Matthew 13:44-46) These parables describe what it looks like when someone truly discovers the riches of Heaven. What they’re willing to give up in order to gain something else. It’s not that we’re able to “buy” our way into God’s Kingdom, but the idea is giving up everything we currently have to gain life with Jesus. Being willing to give up our plans, our desires, our conveniences, our comforts, our wealth, our possessions in order to gain something greater — a relationship with God and HIS plan for us. If something is valuable to us, then we’re willing to give up other things to get it. The Kingdom is priceless; greater than anything that we could hold onto in this life. The apostle Paul put it this way “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8). Paul knew that all the worldly things were worthless when measured against the treasure of knowing Jesus Christ. I’m not saying nothing else in this world has any value at all, but rather knowing Christ is the most valuable thing in this world. And if we’re willing to give up everything to follow Him (Mark 10:21), then we will start seeing how His plan for our lives far outweighs our own plans. We don’t know what we’ve been missing until we lose it all and gain Him. 

1. Eternal life with Him
2. Special privileges, as only His sons or daughters could enjoy
3. Guaranteed success in life (His definition of success is different from the world’s. Sucess to Jesus means glorifying Him by coming into the purpose for which you were made)