A Cherished Pearl
There is a recurring reference in the New Testament to the value of pearls. This seems weird to us today because in our world pearls are far more common than in ancient times. When Jesus speaks of a pearl, he speaks of something exorbitantly luxurious and expensive. It's with this context that we hear Jesus speak about the Kingdom of Heaven being like a pearl for which we would sacrifice anything to attain. This begs the question: do I value the kingdom of heaven as Jesus describes? Do I see the glory of God as something worth any sacrifice or are there still cheaper goods I'd rather keep from my worldly life? Sacrifice is a key element of our walk with Christ because it prepares our hearts to eschew the cheaper "treasures" of the world in favor of something more glorious and more enduring.