Matthew Study 13:44

"... he goes and sells all he has..."

The discovery, purchase, and upkeep of Jesus Christ in our hearts is worth every amount of blood, sweat, and tears.  Nothing is more important. Nothing is more worthy of our sacrifice.

Some spend their whole life's work seeking the Pearl of Great Price and never find it. Others find It early on, forget its worth, and it falls into the jewelry case of one's heart like any other religious trinket. O, it was a phase I went through, we say. It doesn't mean that much anymore.

But the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price described here is, in Jesus' words, the only thing worth living, and dying, for. This man sold all he had in order to buy the field. He sold things precious, things dear. He gave up sentimental things - time honored things, the stuff that memories are made of - for the sake of the field alone.

(No one could really see the treasure hidden in the field, by the way, and thus probably thought he was acting foolishly. They only saw the field. A field? What does this bloke want with that old field?!) But he knew. He could see where others could not.

If we are to follow Jesus we will follow him into the complete denial of our selves. All is counted loss for the sake of the Kingdom. Everything needs to be crucified for the sake of Tomb Life.

This is perhaps the hardest call on the life of a disciple - to sell everything for the Pearl's Sake. In some instances the call to sell is welcomed - as it provides opportunity for rescue, healing, and restoration. In other instances, especially in matters of emotion and love, the selling of everything can be a painful event.

Jesus knew his resurrection would follow the selling of all he had - his life for us - and it most likely encouraged him in the all out purchase of the Field. He, of course still needed to die, but now it had become death for a reason, for the good of us all. So, in a real sense, the eschatological joy which was to follow became infused into the Cross he endured. And it empowered him in the purchasing of the Field.

Paul writes that the joy on the other side is incomparable to anything we've ever known. Knowing that - using that -  the disciple acquires the strength to sell all. He is infused with a hope that transcends momentary heartache and propels him into the Straight and Narrow.

Selling all isn't for the sake of selling all - with no return on the sales. It is the only entrance into a doorway where Life really begins.