The Value of You

by Pastor Jim Deck

I have often thought of what value I am in the Kingdom of God as I have taken this journey with God throughout my life. I have laid awake at night and contemplated, just how much does my relationship mean to my Lord? I know the initial and quickest answer lies in the fact that He gave His life for me. What more could I ask? What could be of more value than one man giving up His life for another? Someone making the greatest sacrifice that could be asked of them. But the question that soon rushes in is; What is my commitment to Him? He has given His all for me, what do I have to offer Him? You can't say, "He is everything to me", until you can say and believe, "I'm everything to Him!"

Jesus emphasizes this simple but powerful truth in a twin parable He told to His disciples in Matthew 13 of The Parables of The Hidden Treasure and The Parable of The Pearl of Great Price.

We can imagine that farmer plowing through the field as he did many times before. Laboring over the hard work of plowing through the hard ground. Sweating, blistered, heat bearing down on him, aches in his body. Just wanting to stop and find a cool place to rest and enjoy a cool drink of water. Just as he almost convinces himself to stop, he hits something hard in the ground with the plow blade. "Great! Another rock!" He drops the reins and gets down on his knees to dig out the object that has deterred him for the millionth time. But there is something different about this obstacle. It's not a rock but something made out of wood. As he digs with his bloodied hands, he uncovers the top of a wooden chest. His heart begins beating faster as his mind begins rushing with thoughts of a chest that holds untold riches. He struggles with getting the chest uncovered but is finally successful in freeing the once dirt encased object. He pulls the chest free and opens the top to discover every dream he ever had has been answered with a jewel-laden treasure. Gems beyond his wildest dreams gleam in the hot sun reflecting their fabulous wealth. But wait! Has someone seen him uncover this chest? Is there someone who might take this newfound wealth away from him? With great haste and excitement, the farmer reburies the chest, and goes and sells all he has to purchase this field he has toiled over all his life, to obtain this new treasure he has discovered.

Jesus, again, using another parable to illustrate His meaning tells of a pearl of great price. A pearl that is of such value it is described in tales throughout the land. A merchant of pearls seeks this pearl of such great value that it is his life's quest to find and possess it. Going from place to place buying and selling pearls in an undying drive to find this great treasure. One day as he is going about his trade, he suddenly comes across the largest most beautiful pearl he has ever seen. THIS IS IT! This is that pearl he has sought his whole life. He must have it! There is no cost too great. He must possess this pearl at whatever cost - even life itself. Selling all that he has, he buys the pearl. This was the pearl, unsurpassed in perfection and beauty.

Jesus has described two powerful parables to us of the fabulous wealth desired and obtained by a farmer and a pearl merchant. But what could be so valuable about jewels or a pearl? Is the Kingdom of Heaven or even God Himself that valuable to us? Do we seek after them as these two men sought after riches? But a closer look at the parables tells us something about our Lord. Something we often overlook as we are caught up in the pursuit of wealth and the good life. Jesus is revealing the passion and passionate purpose he unleashes in our lives. Jesus is saying, "You are the treasure! You are what I have been looking for! You are the pearl of great price!

In Matthew 13:37,38 Jesus said, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom." Jesus is the leading character in His teaching of the parables. He is the plowman. He is the merchant. It is you who he has put such great value on. As we reflect on this Easter season we must fix our eyes on Calvary. The suffering and shame of the cross was the price He paid for you and me. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

There can be no question as to the love and desire our Lord has for us. He came for us, lived and died for us, and was resurrected that we could live for Him. Are you seeking this treasure He has laid before us in the gift of salvation that He freely wants you to have? Open your heart to Him today and realize the value of all He is, and has for you.

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