In Matthew13:45-46, we read: “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."
He searched for the perfect pearl for years. Finally in this out-of-the way shop, he spotted it. He took his time browsing, hoping the owner didn’t realize its value.
The owner approached him.“I see you’ve found the Pearl. It’s for sale.”
“How much?” The man asked. The pearl took his breath away. He had to have it.
“How much are you willing to pay?”
“Everything.” He grabbed his check book. The owner took out paper and pencil.
“What do you own?”
“A house.” One house, he jotted, looked up. “Anything else?"
“Two cars.”
"Noted. A wife? Children?” The man told him.
“One wife. Three Children,” he listed them. “Bank accounts? Saving accounts?” All assets, even his family pets made the owner's list.
“Congratulations. The pearl is yours.” He raised his hand. "But here’s the deal. You and everything you own is mine.” The man blanched. “Your wife, children, all your possessions.” The man gasped. “As my steward, you’re responsible for my property.” He eyed the man. “Understand?” At the man’s nod, he said. “Handle my possessions with great care for now you answer to me.”
“I don’t understand, Grandfather. What happened?”
“When we seek the Lord Jesus, He entrusts us with riches untold. Family, friends, abilities--all to show His mercy and graciousness towards us and others. We and all our possessions are His.”
“Wow,” Timmy said, smiling.
Kingdom Thinking. I didn’t realize all of my life I'd searched for the Pearl. I thought people or things, man made pearls, would fill the emptiness. Finally I realized He, the Lord Jesus, had been there all the time. He promises to love me and never leave me. He offers the same to you. Won’t you believe?
He searched for the perfect pearl for years. Finally in this out-of-the way shop, he spotted it. He took his time browsing, hoping the owner didn’t realize its value.
The owner approached him.“I see you’ve found the Pearl. It’s for sale.”
“How much?” The man asked. The pearl took his breath away. He had to have it.
“How much are you willing to pay?”
“Everything.” He grabbed his check book. The owner took out paper and pencil.“What do you own?”
“A house.” One house, he jotted, looked up. “Anything else?"
“Two cars.”
"Noted. A wife? Children?” The man told him.
“One wife. Three Children,” he listed them. “Bank accounts? Saving accounts?” All assets, even his family pets made the owner's list.
“Congratulations. The pearl is yours.” He raised his hand. "But here’s the deal. You and everything you own is mine.” The man blanched. “Your wife, children, all your possessions.” The man gasped. “As my steward, you’re responsible for my property.” He eyed the man. “Understand?” At the man’s nod, he said. “Handle my possessions with great care for now you answer to me.”
“I don’t understand, Grandfather. What happened?”
“When we seek the Lord Jesus, He entrusts us with riches untold. Family, friends, abilities--all to show His mercy and graciousness towards us and others. We and all our possessions are His.”
“Wow,” Timmy said, smiling.
Kingdom Thinking. I didn’t realize all of my life I'd searched for the Pearl. I thought people or things, man made pearls, would fill the emptiness. Finally I realized He, the Lord Jesus, had been there all the time. He promises to love me and never leave me. He offers the same to you. Won’t you believe?