What's It Worth?

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, 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. Matt. 13:44-46

"What’s it worth?" That’s a question we might ask of all kinds of things. But when it comes to Jesus, it’s an especially important question. Are Jesus and his kingdom worth everything we have? What about our jobs or our family? What about our ambitions or our relationships? Is that special pearl of his kingdom worth all the other little pearls?

We sing a lot of songs that say Jesus is everything to us but I hear many stories of faith in crises because someone had to give up one of the lesser pearls. If we loose our job or a child dies can we still say Jesus is everything? What if our spouse walks out on us, our house is foreclosed on and we find out we have cancer? What then? Is it still possible to believe that he is the greater treasure?

This is no small question. Can our faith in God's goodness be tied to a set of conditions? We may certainly feel the pain of loss but we must somehow continue to trust that he is the greater treasure. Paul’s words in II Corinthians 4:17 sums it up: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” We cannot often see the reward of trust but this conviction will serve us well in the toughest times of our lives. When finally we are in his arms we will know that he was worth it all.

One final thought, it does help when we are not alone, but we lock arms with others who are believing with us.