Precious Pearls

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov. 25

Read: Matt.13:45

That’s a Win

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” - Jesus

Everyone loves finding a “deal”! My Mom is the most avid deal hunter I know… and my sister is right behind her. They will shop, watch sales, sift through bins at some special store, combine sales with “Kohl’s cash”… I mean you name it… they will find a deal. I think it is safe to say we ALL do it in our own way. What if we searched for the Kingdom of God the same way we do for “black Friday sales” and the “clearance rack” at our favorite stores? What if we were on the hunt for the KOG like we hunt for that next gadget or outfit that our heart longs for? What if we searched for the KOG like a merchant searching for his pearl?

The Kingdom of God must be “searched for''… it must be sought out… it must be “hunted”. The KOG is not a field forced upon a “digger” or a pearl shoved into the hand of a merchant. As God’s children we are to be “seekers'' of the Kingdom of God. (cf. Matt. 6) We need to keep a keen eye out for all of the places the Kingdom of God is unfolding. There is a great intentionality to being a “Kingdom hunter”. The Kingdom of God advances with force, and the forceful lay hold of it. (cf. Matt. 11:12) We see this laid out in Jesus’ own words in Luke:“the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.” (Luke 16:16) When the secret of the Kingdom is revealed to us, the mysteries made known, and we are born again and able to see the KOG - the correct and true response is to seek it out actively… looking… hunting… leaning into it whenever and wherever we can! (cf.Matt13:10-12, John 3:3, Eph. 1:26)

This hunt for the KOG is not indiscriminate though. We must KNOW what we are looking for. Think of this merchant, the only way this parable works is if the merchant can correctly identify a fine pearl. Furthermore, it actually implies that he has a keen eye to see a fine pearl whose value is not realized by its current owner. The merchant has to be able to spot the deal… to recognize the hidden gem… the unrealized value of something precious. In this way, the KOG could be right under our noses and we would miss it if we didn’t have the wisdom given to us to identify it. When this merchant finds this pearl, he goes and sells all he has to come back and buy it. Now imagine this step of faith! He is trusting that it will still be there once he gets back after liquidating ALL his stuff. In a moment, this merchant went from searching for many things (plural pearls) to going ALL IN on one thing. There is no halfway with the KOG, it is an all or nothing proposition… we must go “all in'' and we must trust that the reward will still be there after we let go of everything!

As the deal finally goes down, I can’t help but think of the seller. Once again we have to ask why would someone sell something for less than it is worth? It could be just like the landowner with his treasure; the seller WILLINGLY gives up the pearl for a lesser price. This would totally match up with the KOG and Jesus’ gift to us. I think the setting and characters might imply something a little different. These are merchants here… shrewd deal makers of old. There is no deception like reburying the treasure in our previous parable. The pearl is open, on the table, and being directly bargained for. I mean - the “sticker price” of the pearl is already pretty high! What I think it comes down to is that the seller thinks the money from the sale is more valuable… more practical… than simply holding onto the pearl. In this way, the seller doesn’t see the pearl as valuable in the same way as the merchant deal hunter. The KOG is the sort of place that people will not always see the same value in as you. In fact, some may think it is a foolish exchange to give up money in exchange for the KOG. There will be those around you who will see SOME value in following the Lord… in the Kingdom of God… just like the seller saw some value in the pearl - he had it out on the table for sale after all. But what happens is that the true value of the pearl is tested, and a deal is presented, and the parties involved have to decide what is MOST valuable. In the end, the seller takes the money and gives up the pearl. What will you cling to? Would you make the mistake of handing over the pearl for something lesser than?

On this thanksgiving day, may we pour over the “pearl” of the KOG that has been given to us. May the Lord give us eyes to see the Kingdom all around us. May we hunt for it today and celebrate when we find it. The world around us will not always see the value in the Kingdom… that is ok. Just remember… it is worth it! Trading it all for the one… all in on THE pearl… it is worth it. God give us grateful hearts, and grant us joy as we search for deeper and deeper ways to experience your Kingdom. Love you guys. - JDP