Would you sell all you have?
Hello Saints,
There is not much on the television these days that doesn’t promote anti-biblical teaching or makes me cringe knowing that Jesus is with me. I often wonder why I even have a television in the first place. Every so often, from something I do find that might be worth watching, I get inspired to delve into the scriptures, as while watching a verse jumps into my head. That happened again recently as I was watching the Antiques Roadshow. Have you seen this program that has been running for the last 45 years. I’m not talking about the American version, but the original British show, which travels the United Kingdom looking for that valuable antique hidden away in grandma’s closet. Apart from beautiful views of England and its countryside estates and castles, the travelling appraisers bring out thousands of people to their traveling antique fairs, where would-be participants are eagerly waiting to discover the value of their heirloom treasure or that their treasure is nothing but a worthless replica. There are some truly beautiful pieces of furniture, or paintings or ceramics, or whatever that cause one to awe at their beauty. Every artifact has a story that draws you in and makes you anticipate a climactic revelation that what the person has uncovered in their family home is actually worth thousands of dollars, at which the owner smiles in shock. Most of the time, the stuff brought is worth nothing, but what makes it on the show are the valuable finds that have remarkable stories behind them. The audience loves to ogle these pieces and remain drawn along to find out the value. The show’s longevity and success is proof that there is a treasure hunter inside of all of us. Numerous spin-off shows have been created from the success of the Antiques Roadshow.
So, as I mentioned, while watching this show the other day, a verse popped into my head from Matthew 13: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (vs. 44). And the next parable is like it: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (vs. 45-46). In both cases the value of the treasure or pearl is worth selling everything you own to possess it. In both cases the men found the treasure; the first one seems to have just stumbled upon that which he was not looking for, while the second man was looking for pearls but found something so valuable that he just had to have it. In both cases, the price to possess the item was everything. So the question is: what do the treasure and pearl represent? Is it the kingdom, which can only be obtained by being born again by the Spirit of God (John 3). Is it salvation, which cannot be bought, but is rather by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). Whatever it is, the kingdom is involved, and it requires complete abandonment of possessions to obtain, and it brings great joy. Paul said, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). Is Holy Spirit that valuable item worth selling all for? Well, we can’t buy Him either. But…we’re getting close! The way I understand the parable is that Jesus is the treasure worth selling everything for. In Paul’s desire for the Colossian church he writes, “…and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3). That treasure which is hidden (mystery) now revealed is Jesus, even Christ in you (Col. 1:27). Jesus used the same language when he was speaking to the rich young ruler, Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matt. 19:21). That young man was after eternal life, which is only found in Jesus! The message of the parable is that in order to obtain the treasure, which is Jesus, one has to abandon oneself and those things which are holding one from fully following Jesus, and possessing the treasure, which is Him. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus (Matt. 16:24-26). “Whoever does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33). Like Isaiah’s invitation to come and buy, without money to experience abundant life (Isaiah 55), the parable is a picture of discovering Jesus as true life, everlasting life and joy (1John 5:11-13), a treasure worth losing all for. People are divinely led to discover Jesus by Holy Spirit…no one comes less the Father draws. Upon finding Him, or Him leading us to Himself, we find what the whole world is chasing in material possessions and never finds: true joy, true peace and true righteousness. Upon putting our faith in Him, we are immediately saved, redeemed, and seated in Heaven where our true treasure sits, Jesus Himself. We also realize that we are part of the kingdom of God, and all that entails – power, freedom, signs and wonders, sonship, etc. The moment we put our faith in Christ as Savior and Lord, we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God (Col. 1:13), where we experience all the riches of His love, joy, peace, salvation, power, etc.
I am convinced that what the world needs to see is a people who have abandoned all earthly treasures to find true treasure in Christ. The Church is those called out of the world, who have found no joy nor peace in what the world has to offer. They have discovered all riches and true treasure is found in the person of Jesus and His kingdom. To benefit from being kingdom citizens in relationship with the King, we need to let go of the world’s things and find that to truly live, I need to die to myself, deny myself and distance myself from the world. This is the cost of truly finding the pearl of great price, even Jesus. So the question comes down to this: would I be willing to abandon all to truly find abundant life in Christ? Earthly treasures will rust and fade away, but the true treasure that is Jesus will satisfy us unto eternity.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:7-8)
Ponder these truths and be ye transformed!
Have a blessed week!
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