12 Apr, 2011
Priceless
This weekend we attended a live auction that was a fundraiser for a Christian organization we love. We went with the intention of making one or two small purchases of the donated items in order to show our support and contribute to their ministry, but when a big ticket item came up, my husband changed the game plan. Lot Number 171 was a backyard playground complete with trapeze, swings, slide and a bright canopy over a lofty fort. Within moments, it became ours. The next morning I learned not only what his thoughts were regarding our kids, but also the sacrifice it was for him: because of this generous acquisition, he was giving up his own ability to purchase concert tickets to his all-time favorite band. But with three young kids at home, he had in mind years of use as well as the priceless looks of amazement and pleasure on their faces when they saw it set it up in our backyard. To him, that sacrifice was completely worth it.
Image courtesy of Google.com
Matthew 13:44-46
“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.”
What does God’s Story scripture teach us about priceless things?
If you study this passage, you will find that there are two main interpretations of the field and the pearl, as well as two views of who the man and the merchant are. One way is to see that God’s love for us is priceless and He gave up everything in order to save us. On the other hand, we must come to recognize that there is nothing in all creation that compares to God’s love, and therefore we should hold nothing back and give Him all that we have and all that we are. No matter which way you look at it, this is a beautiful picture of how our relationship to God is priceless.
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to my life?
Most of us probably don’t have to worry about selling everything we own in order to obtain the things we want. But how we spend our time and money can tell us a lot about our attitude toward what we value.
- Do you find yourself often having to choose between the things of God and your own stuff?
- Do you choose to spend time working on relationships with other people that are not glorifying to God?
- What are you willing to give up if it means having a deeper understanding of what God values?
- Is God more priceless to you than anything else in His created world?
How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture and my story to others?
People spend their time and energy and resources on what they find valuable. When you are in conversation and discover what someone holds as valuable in their life, tell them about the merchant and the pearl. If you struggled to honestly answer the questions above, pray about being vulnerable enough with them to share those struggles. Pray together that you would both find God to be the most priceless thing in your life, and that He would help you to value Him above all of His creation.
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