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Don’t be confused about the pearls — they are US!
Read Matthew 13:44-52
"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" (Matthew 13:45,46).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Have you ever really thought about these short, very familiar parables Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven, and what they mean for us? I'll be you're like I and many others have been when just reading and rereading them over the years: We probably got the message just backwards!
Our pastor, Pastor Dan, read this Scripture on a recent Sunday morning and asked the congregation, "In this story about the merchant and the pearls -- who is the merchant? What do the pearls represent?"
Like me, most people there immediately said the merchant represented us -- and the pearls were the priceless value of God's Kingdom, his presence that is beyond any value we could put on it.
Then he simply said: "Hmm. So God wants us to sacrifice everything we own for his kingdom -- then what? How do we live? For that matter, assuming the ministry of our church is part of the Kingdom -- how do we pay for it??"
That was a mind opener. The "merchant," for this parable to make any sense at all, is NOT us. The merchant is GOD. The pearls of great value ("great price" in the familiar King James Version) represent us. We are of such value to God that he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for us. HE is the one who has given all to purchase US.
How awesome is that as you go about your day? Great to learn something like that about God, isn't it?