The Pearl of Great Price

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)

The pearl of great price was that rare find that made you sell everything else you possessed in order to buy it. That had to be a rare find! Can you imagine selling everything you own for one object?

This story is a parable told by Jesus to describe the value of the kingdom of God and how the kingdom of God, as defined by a relationship with Him, ought to have such value in a person's life that it is like finding a rare and beautiful treasure. After discovering it, your dreams, your ambitions, your goals, your desires, your motivations, your inclinations—whatever they might be, are now all sacrificed for the spiritual transformation, the call, the commission, the blessings, the provisions, the sense of divine purpose and clarity of life’s meaning in Christ.

God’s presence brings with it all that inspires and motivates us to release possession of everything else in our lives in order to live in a grace-connected relationship with God. This relationship is secured by our redemption through the expensive shedding of the blood of the unblemished sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

No plateau, no attainment, no connection, no position, no status, no title should hold a place in your life that you're not willing to give up everything for the kingdom of God in your life. The kingdom is the pearl of great price.

The challenge for you is to weigh the various parts of your life against such a pearl: Are the thoughts, ideas, and fears that you’re holding onto bringing you closer to or more distant from the pearl of great price? Are you being distracted from the pursuit? Are you too invested in what will not produce that pearl? Are your energies being best expended, or are you being depleted by lesser things—things that may be of value, but in no way compare to that pearl of great price? Are you searching in all the wrong places, and in exchange with all the wrong people, for a pearl of lesser price?

Pursue the pearl of great price. Seek first the kingdom of God.