Single Matters Magazine with Jill Monaco Ministries Christian singles discuss the matters of life, relationships, singleness and faith
Jesus came to us as a tiny baby in a manger, concealing an extraordinary purpose: to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and restore mankind to the Father.
Matthew 13 is jam-packed with stories of Jesus telling parables of what this Kingdom is like. In verses 44-46, He says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to buy the field. 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.”
This reads like an unlikely love story. I envision the thrill of lost love now found or unspoken adoration now shouted from the mountaintops.
This is why Jesus came. He came to shout the love of the Father over us and tell us of our worth. When we forsake all to find Him, that’s when we find the greatest of treasures and the truest of loves. There is much freedom in this place.
Freedom from the trappings of this world.
The moment the seller made the decision to forsake all to purchase the treasure, that field became holy ground. If the man’s love for all he possessed outweighed his desire for the treasure, fear and greed would have won his heart. There’s nothing more impactful you can do in your lifetime than to give all of yourself to gain all God offers.
Freedom from myself.
I cannot hold on to my life and pursue the Kingdom of Heaven. It just doesn’t work. I become a house divided that will fall.
In Matthew 16:25, Jesus compels us to lose our life for His sake so that we may find it. When we dig into the original text, we find that in this passage ‘to lose’ means permanent, absolute destruction; to utterly perish. The word ‘life’ here means your distinct identity; your unique personhood.
When you lose this life in your quest for the Kingdom, only then will you truly discover the you God intended when He knit you together. The real you is there, hidden in Him, waiting to be uncovered.
Freedom from the opinions of others.
When you venture into this Kingdom, you may encounter some vocal resistance from those you leave behind. Are you nuts? You sold everything for one pearl? How do you know it’s really worth it?
Just remember, this is your life to give and your road of freedom to travel. I encourage you to keep your ears tuned to the voice of truth, your eyes on the road ahead, and your heart aimed solely at the prize.
Freedom from complacency.
The man was obviously looking for something when he stumbled upon the treasure. He wasn’t wasting himself in false contentment. Don’t let yourself fall into a misleading sense that where you are lies all there is. Your treasure is waiting. Grab your shovel, find your field and dig.
The Father set a powerful precedent when He lost His treasure. Without hesitation, He risked all in His bid to recapture the hearts of mankind. Jesus participated in the madness when He gave up His life for ours. Let’s follow their courageous example.
So, what does it look like to sell all in wild pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven?
It is throwing up my hands in surrender and bowing my heart in worship. It is giving my time, talent, and attention to the Father. It is laying all I love at the feet of Jesus, trusting Him with my future and seeking Him above all else. It is the utter destruction of me in exchange for the invaluable gift of my unique identity.
In the depths of losing, the wonder of finding happens. Found in the Kingdom of Heaven are salvation, grace, peace, wisdom, joy. Chains are broken, freedom is discovered and lost hope is restored.
God places a high priority on recovering lost things. Luke 15 holds more words of love, lost and found — the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. Through these stories the Father is saying, “You were lost, but I have sacrificed all to find you. I knew I would bring you home.”
Will you do the same? Will you give all to find Him?
The greatest thing you can give this holiday season is the gift of yourself to the Father. For just as God — and the revelation of His Kingdom — is our pearl of great price, we are His.
Did you get that, friend? You are the Father’s pearl of great price. You are His treasure hidden in a field. The Kingdom of Heaven was brought to earth when the Father, seeking the fulfillment of His heart, found you and gave the most precious thing He had — His son — to purchase you.
You see, it’s in the digging and discovering, the selling and buying; it’s in treasuring what matters most that we find life. All that is given up or lost, whatever is sold or surrendered is nothing compared with the wonder that is gained.
The treasure, hidden within the sweet little package of the baby Jesus, was the Father’s heart. It was and continues to be the most precious gift ever visited upon mankind.
This is love. This is the Kingdom.
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