Matthew 13:45-46

"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."

By first telling people of the rewards and benefits they will receive as a Christian, have we lost the sacrificial aspect? Is this why we find such falsified and un-lived out faith? Are we really sacrificing anything if we give away a grain of sand for a pearl?

The indirectness of it all- The First will be last and the last will be first. (It’s like trying to explain to someone how humble you are). We can only be first when we desire to be last, but if we desire to be last only to be first, we do not really desire to be last. This same principle applies to obtaining the kingdom of heaven. Only through sacrifice is something gained. It is only by renouncing the wealth directly that we gain it indirectly. If what we really desire is wealth, then we have not really desired the pearl at all, for the pearl requires you to give all of your wealth. So when you have the pearl you are poor, but wealthy far beyond what you had because this pearl was worth more than what you had. This pearl was worth way more than what you had, but what you have is a pearl. You could not buy groceries with it or pay for shelter, but if you sold it you would no longer have it. Scripture seems to point out that we receive this pearl for “sacrificing” what we have, but is it really a sacrifice? So what is the value in having the pearl? Again, this comes back to the age old question that I am currently exploring personally: why am I a follower of Christ?

           

Is it because I think it’s morally proper? It makes sense? Is it because I am afraid of hell? Or desire heaven? Maybe because I think it will bring me blessings? Is there a right answer to this question? It is a quest that will probably take me the rest of my life, but I intend on finding where my heart truly lies in all of this. I have given my grain of sand, but for what purpose? Peter Rollins writes that: “the pearl has no value if all you seek is its value.” Instead we do not sacrifice for the value of the pearl, but for the character of the pearl itself. It is the character of God that brings us to our knees. Not heaven, not blessings.

          

  Essentially, if we have only given our grain of sand in pursuit of the value of the pearl, we have not really given anything at all. We have yet to give. Perhaps that’s why we find it so hard to give sometimes? Because the only reason we gave in the first place was to receive. In Jesus’ parable this man was not blessed afterwards, he was driven into poverty! He gave up everything! Why? Because none of it mattered anymore; the character of this pearl was so far beyond what this man had that he was willing to lay everything down to receive it. In Christianity today there is often a sense of how our giving is only done in expectation of receiving a greater reward. When I tithe, in the back of my mind I know that I will be rewarded (now or in the future) for my sacrifice, beyond what I gave. We are looking to heaven, to what will be given to us. What selfishness.

Is that carrying a cross at all? Therefore, fear hell, look forward to heaven and believe that Jesus’ message made sense. But please do not base what you believe upon things of selfish motivation. Let us not seek the value of the pearl, but its character. Let us be willing to drive ourselves into poverty to obtain it.