For what are we seeking after, for what are we working?

1. The
Pearl
of
Great
Price!

2. What do we
treasure?

4. What Are We Seeking?

6. The Pearl of Great Price!
Mt 13:45-46 "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.”

7. This is a parable about the “value”
of the Kingdom of Heaven!
Value = the regard that something is held to
deserve; importance or worth (Oxford)
▪ What is our regard of the kingdom?
▪ What is it deserving of?
▪ What is it’s importance & worth?

8. Pearls at the time held great value!
Rev. 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve
pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl.
And the street of the city was pure gold, like
transparent glass.
▪ The valuable pearl is “the deal of a life
time!”
▪ Unlike precious stones which must be cut
and polished to reveal their clarity and
beauty, the pearl is perfect as it comes
from the oyster!

9. I. The Vision!
Vision = the faculty or state of being able to see
(Oxford)
▪ The idea of vision is very interesting to me
personally. I believe one of our greatest
strengths and weaknesses is to have vision or to
lack vision!
▪ The biggest difference in this parable and the
one that precedes it is this one includes “vision!”
▪ Let’s read them together and note the
difference in them!

10. One stumbles upon it, the other is
searching for it!
One simply is in the right place at the right
time, the other is doing the right things for
the right reason!
▪ How many of us here are really “seeking”
after God, seeking the Kingdom of Heaven?
▪ Seek is found 237 times in the Bible!
▸ Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you. (Cf. Mt. 5:6)

11. II. The Value!
Value = the regard that something is held to
deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness
of something (Oxford)
▪ In both of these parallel stories the “value” of
what is found is greater than anything else! It
becomes the greatest importance!
▪ Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for
either he will hate the one and love the other, or
else he will be loyal to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

12. This is not easy to realize or carry
out in practice!
▪ Mt 10:37-38 "He who loves father or mother
more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who
loves son or daughter more than Me is not
worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his
cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”
▪ With God it has always been “all or nothing!”
We are either all in or all out!
▪ The most important thing in this life is that we
come to know God and trust Him!

13. III. The Valor!
Valor = great courage in the face of danger,
especially in battle (Oxford)
▪ It may seem at first that this point is out of place
in our study, but I can assure you it isn’t!
▪ For us to fulfill what Jesus is teaching us it will
take vision, value and valor!
▸Jg. 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared
unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with
thee, thou mighty man of valour.

14. God is looking for those that will
trust Him against all odds!
▪ For one to take these steps it will take a level of faith
that what we attain is far greater than what we give!
▪ Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler?
(Mt. 19:16-26; Mk. 10:17-27 & Lk. 18:18-27)
▸Mt 19:21-22 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be
perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and come,
follow Me." But when the young man heard that
saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions.

15. The conclusion of this story is that
we cannot do it alone!
Mt 19:25-26 When his disciples heard it, they
were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then
can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and
said unto them, With men this is impossible;
but with God all things are possible.
▪ Our only hope is Jesus! The truth is that none
of us can do it alone!
▪ We need God and we need one another!
▸Phil. 4:13
▸Gal. 6:1-2

16. Conclusion:
▪ I hope that in these last few weeks each of us
have seen just how valuable this stories that Jesus
told are to us!
▪ A parable maybe a small story but it contains a
big idea!
▪ What is our vision on this morning? What do we
value? Are we willing to lay it all on the line for
Jesus?
▪ “Rise up men/woman of valor!”
▪ If you haven’t joined the Lord in battle, then do
so today!