How much do we value the Kingdom?

A few nights ago, I was reading a familiar story to my kids before bed. The story got me thinking a lot about what I value in life. Interestingly, earlier that evening, we had been watching a movie where a person was confronted with just a week to live and she wrestled with how she should spend it. And she fumbled her way in a very self seeking manor to figure out how to spend her time. The movie presented the answer in a very worldly way as one would expect. But that movie already had me in that line of thinking before I read to my children a couple of hours later.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV

All of us are guaranteed today. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So, in reality, we are all meant to make the most of each day. And how we do that will be determined by what we value.

Text: Matthew 13:44–46

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

You see, everyone is searching for something of value in life: success, love, peace, security, things, wealth, and the list goes on. Jesus tells two short parables to show us that the greatest treasure is not in this world, but in the kingdom of heaven. I realize this isn’t breaking news but it does leave us all with a question: Do we value the kingdom this much?

C.S. Lewis – “Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in.’ Aim at earth and you will get neither.”

The Value of the Kingdom

The kingdom of heaven is compared to two things: hidden treasure and a pearl of great price. Neither of these are ordinary things—they are priceless. They are worth more than the sum of the person’s life. More than all of their possessions, career, and wealth. But what exactly is the Kingdom? The kingdom represents knowing Christ, being reconciled to God, eternal life, and true joy. It is knowing and being known by God. Paul said in Philippians 3:8 that he counted everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Not somethings, but everything.

There in lies the heart of the question. Do we count everything as loss compared to knowing Jesus? Would we forsake everything for the cause of the kingdom? Both men in the parables sell all they have to gain the treasure. This is not a half-hearted pursuit; it is total commitment. We can’t treat our faith in Christ as an add-on to life. We cannot cling to the world and fully embrace Christ at the same time.

Jesus said in Luke 14:33 – “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” There has to be a willingness and a readiness to give up anything and everything in the pursuit of Christ and making Him known. Jesus also said in Matthew 10:38 — “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

And here’s the key…in our surrender, in our willingness to give everything, it is all done with joy. Notice in v. 44: “Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has…” Giving up everything for Christ is not drudgery—it is joy, because we gain something infinitely greater.

Jim Elliot once said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

True discipleship is not about sacrifice alone—it is about finding the deepest joy and fulfillment in God Himself. In Psalm 16:11 we read – “In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

We pursue a lot of things in life. I have pursued my wife, I have pursued my career. I have pursued knowledge and learning. I have pursued a standard of living that provides comfort and security to my family. I don’t believe any of that is bad as long as it’s secondary to my pursuit of Christ. And if I am not joyfully willingly to give up the money, the job, the home, the possessions for Him then my heart is not in the right place.

Augustine of Hippo – “Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all.”

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.