Our Glorious Treasure

When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:46, CSB 

While I was in junior high, my hobbies were playing football and collecting sports cards. My favorite team was the Miami Dolphins, and my favorite player was Dan Marino. I tried to get every Dan Marino football card. After a couple of years, I built up a glorious collection of those cards. I was very proud of my display, until one day I came across a Dan Marino card I did not have. It was the rookie card, and my collection was worthless without it. I traded nearly every football card I had for that Marino rookie card—I had to have it! 

In these two parables, Jesus is comparing the kingdom of heaven to two treasures. The first parable compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure found in a field. The man who found it sold everything he had to buy the field, so he could have 

the valuable treasure. The second parable compares the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great price. The pearl merchant also sells all he has to buy this great pearl. 

What was Jesus saying in these two parables? Receiving the kingdom of God is nothing less than exchanging all that you are for all that He is. Are there things in your life you are trying to keep for yourself? You cannot hold on to the things of God and the things of this world at the same time. You must let go of one or the other. Only the kingdom of God will last forever. The things of the world are passing away. Don’t let the most glorious treasure slip away for lesser corruptible disappointments. 

PRAY: Thank God for who He is. Don’t ask for anything. Just spend time telling God how great He is. Not because He is an egomaniac that needs to hear it— it’s because we need a constant reminder that He truly is our glorious treasure. 

ACT: Listen to your favorite worship song. Sing with it and worship Jesus. Then, pray for your one that they would begin to know and worship Jesus as their glorious treasure.