Is What You Got Worth A lot2
IS WHAT YOU GOT WORTH A LOT?
Matt 13:45-46
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
KJV
Our topic this morning is what you got worth a lot? Is what you got worth a lot or is it not that hot?
I suggest to you today that everyone lives for a reason. There is an ultimate goal a treasure that we all search for. If we have secured it we cherish it. It we have not secured it we strive to acquire it.
If you haven’t found it--is what you are searching for worth it? Are you wasting your time for sometime that really cannot satisfy? Why are you searching? It is because somebody else convinced you that what you are looking is worth a lot?
Jesus said that this merchant was searching for goodly pearls. It means that he was a collector of pearls. He knew the value of priceless pearls.
Everyone today is searching for something. (Searching for pearls) Someone wants to be weathly, another persons wants prestige, others want to educated, some want to be adored. Most people in the world are caught up with pearls that are counterfeits. Cracker Jack box treasures.
Jesus said that when the man saw this particular pearl he sold all the others and then some! He knew that this ONE pearl was priceless and he stop his searching because he found what he needed!
You see the Point of the story
Jesus Christ is the Pearl of great price, a Jewel of inestimable value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward God; in having him, we have enough to make us happy here and for ever.
So I’m going ask the question again . . . Is what you got worth a lot or is it not that hot?
Do you have Jesus? If not what do you have? If you don’t have Jesus and you’re searching for something else that’s a trap?
In The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen retells a tale from ancient India: Four royal brothers decided each to master a special ability. Time went by, and the brothers met to reveal what they had learned.
"I have mastered a science," said the first, "by which I can take but a bone of some creature and create the flesh that goes with it."
"I," said the second, "know how to grow that creature's skin and hair if there is flesh on its bones."
The third said, "I am able to create its limbs if I have the flesh, the skin, and the hair."
"And I," concluded the fourth, "know how to give life to that creature if its form is complete."
Thereupon the brothers went into the jungle to find a bone so they could demonstrate their specialties. As fate would have it, the bone they found was a lion's. One added flesh to the bone, the second grew hide and hair, the third completed it with matching limbs, and the fourth gave the lion life. Shaking its mane, the ferocious beast arose and jumped on his creators. He killed them all and vanished contentedly into the jungle.
We too have the capacity to create what can devour us. Goals and dreams can consume us. Possessions and property can turn and destroy us--unless we first seek God's kingdom and righteousness, and allow him to breathe into what we make of life.
-- Nathan Castens, Chanhassen, Minnesota. Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 1.
You see the point is that whatever you are searching for or whatever you have if you have procured it. If Jesus didn’t give it to you.
Whether it’s a man or a woman, a material possession like an automobile. It is going to turn around and bit you where you sit! It’s a trap!
Luke 21:33-36
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
NIV
dis•si•pa•tion \ ˌdi-sə-ˈpā-shən \ noun
(15th century)
1 : the action or process of dissipating : the state of being dissipated:
a : dispersion , diffusion
b archaic : dissolution , disintegration
c : wasteful expenditure
d : intemperate living; especially : excessive drinking
2 : an act of self-indulgence; especially : one that is not harmful : amusement
[1]
In a vision given me at Battle Creek, Michigan, October 25, 1861, I was shown this earth, dark and gloomy. Said the angel, "Look carefully!" Then I was shown the people upon the earth. Some were surrounded by angels of God, others were in total darkness, surrounded by evil angels. I saw an arm reached down from heaven, holding a golden scepter. On the top of the scepter was a crown, studded with diamonds. Every diamond emitted light, bright, clear, and beautiful. Inscribed upon the crown were these words: "All who win me are happy, and shall have everlasting life." {CET 161.1}
Below this crown was another scepter, and upon this also was placed a crown, in the center of which were jewels, gold, and silver, reflecting some light. The inscription upon the crown was: "Earthly treasure. Riches is power. All who win me have honor and fame." I saw a vast multitude rushing forward to obtain this crown. They were clamorous. Some in their eagerness seemed bereft of reason. They would thrust one another, crowding back those who were weaker than they, and trampling upon those who in their haste fell. Many eagerly seized hold of the treasures within the crown, and held them fast. The heads of some were as white as silver, and their faces were furrowed with care and anxiety. Their own relatives, bone of their bone, and flesh of their flesh, they regarded not; but, as appealing looks were turned to them, they held their treasures more firmly, as though fearful that in an unguarded moment they should lose a little, or be induced to divide with them. Their eager eyes would often fasten upon the earthly crown, and count and recount its treasures. {CET 161.2}
161
162
Images of want and wretchedness appeared in that multitude, and looked wishfully at the treasures there, and turned hopelessly away as the stronger overpowered and drove back the weaker. Yet they could not give it up thus, but with a multitude of deformed, sickly, and aged, they sought to press their way to the earthly crown. Some died in seeking to reach it. Others fell just in the act of taking hold of it. Many had but just laid hold of it when they fell. Dead bodies strewed the ground, yet on rushed the multitude, trampling over the fallen and dead bodies of their companions. Everyone who reached the crown possessed a share in it, and was loudly applauded by an interested company standing around it. {CET 162.1}
A large company of evil angels were very busy. Satan was in the midst of them, and all looked with the most exulting satisfaction upon the company struggling for the crown. He seemed to throw a peculiar charm upon those who eagerly sought it. {CET 162.2}
Many who sought this earthly crown were professed Christians. Some of them seemed to have a little light. They would look wishfully upon the heavenly crown, and would often seem charmed with its beauty, yet they had no true sense of its value and glory. While with one hand they were reaching forth languidly for the heavenly, with the other they reached eagerly for the earthly, determined to possess that; and in their earnest pursuit for the earthly, they lost sight of the heavenly. They were left in darkness, yet were anxiously groping about to secure the earthly crown. {CET 162.3}
Ill. How to catch a monkey
Native hunters in the jungles of Africa have a clever
way of trapping monkeys.
They slice a coconut in two, hollow it out, and in one half of the shell cut a hole just big enough for a monkey’s hand to pass through. Then they place an orange in the other coconut half before fastening together the two halves of the coconut shell. Finally, they secure the coconut to a tree with a rope, retreat into the jungle, and wait.
Sooner or later, an unsuspecting monkey swings by, smells the delicious orange, and discovers its location inside the coconut. The monkey then slips his hand through the small hole, grasp the orange, and tries to pull it through the hole. Of course, the orange won’t come out; it’s too big for the hole. To no avail the persistent monkey continues to pull and pull, never realizing the danger he is in.
While the monkey struggles with the orange, the hunters simply stroll in and capture the monkey by throwing a net over him. As long as the monkey keeps his fist wrapped around the orange, the monkey is trapped.
It’s too bad-the poor monkey could save its own life if it would let go of the orange. It rarely occurs to a monkey, however, that it can’t have both the orange and its freedom. That delicious orange becomes a deadly trap.
The world sets traps for you that are not unlike the monkey trap. You hear constantly that if you just have enough money, enough stuff, enough power, enough prestige-then you’ll be happy. Under that illusion people spend their whole lives thinking you must have it all.
The call of Christianity is unlike that of the world. The world focus’ on what you can get out of life. But Jesus focus is getting life out of this World!
(Devil)
The fly lands on the flypaper and says, “My flypaper,” while the flypaper says, “My fly.
What you got worth a lot? Or if you don’t have it what are you spending time looking for? Who are you hanging with trying to get it?
What you’re looking for I the one you’re looking for. What you’re searching for cause you don’t have to search no more. On your knees joy and peace and happiness. What you’re looking I’m the One you’re looking for!
Matt 6:20-21
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
KJV
The stewardship of your soul determines who is first in your life. First question have you given your life to Jesus. If not what you’re looking for?
If you have is He the constant treasure you are reaching for? Is He your ultimate goal everyday?
I repeat, the stewardship of your soul determines who is first in your life. What I mean by that is what do you spend your time, talent, temple and treasure on.
Let’s take time for instance . . .
What’s your treasure today? You spend most of your God given gifts trying to get it! Time, Temple, Treasure and talent.
Material possessions
Man or woman
Once a young man proposed to his girl as they sat looking over the beautiful lake. "Darling, I want you to know that I love you more than anything else in the world. I want you to marry me. I'm not wealthy. I don't have a yacht or a Rolls-Royce like Johnny Green, but I do love you with all my heart."
She thought for a minute and then replied, "I love you with all my heart, too, but tell me more about Johnny Green."
--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 342.
(Double Dealing Woman)
How can you be sure?
Equally evident is it that he had a fixed definite object. He had given himself to pearl-hunting, and pearl-hunting was to be the one object of his life. If you had met him, and said, "What are you seeking?" he would have answered in a moment, "I am seeking good pearls: have you any to sell me?" He would have been sure to have the answer ready to hand. But ask many a man whom you meet with, "Sir, what are you living for?" he would, perhaps, tell you what his trade or what his profession might be; but if you pressed him with the question, "What is the main object of life?" he would not like to say that he was living only to enjoy himself-seeking his own pleasure. He would hardly like to say that he was living to grasp and grab and get a fortune. He would hardly know how to answer you.
(Drugs – Girl)
(Pulling people down)
(Life dragging people)
(Looking for counterfeit pearls)
Pants- boot,
(Road to hell is jam packed)
Some Christians getting caught up in it too!
Maybe it’s because they don’t understand the worth of Jesus! Pearl of Great price!
Maybe it’s because they look at some of these long dry cracked lipped Christians in the church who are always miserable and figure that’s Christianity! You have to know Jesus for yourself!
Huck Finn
Worship (Thor)
I love the Song!
JESUS IS THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!
He’s my Rock, my Sword, my Shield; He’s my wheel in the middle of a wheel
He’s my Lily of the valley; He’s my Bright and Morning Star
Makes no difference what you say I’m going on my knees and pray cause I’m gonna wait wait right here until He Comes!
I don’t know why people don’t recognize how priceless Jesus is! Maybe it’s because they heard Jesus say
Luke 9:23
23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
NKJV
Maybe they think that the Christian way is nothing but thorns and thistles.
Prov 13:15
but the way of transgressors is hard.
KJV
Isa 48:22
There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked
KJV
(People in this world commit suicide)
There will be trials in the Christian life
Until I learned to trust,
I never learned to pray;
And I did not learn to fully trust
Till sorrows came my way.
Until I felt my weakness,
His strength I never knew
Nor dreamed ’til I was stricken
That he could see me through.
Who deepest drinks of sorrow,
Drinks deepest, too, of grace;
He sends the storm so he himself
Can be our hiding place.
His heart, that seeks our highest—GOOD—
Knows well when things annoy;
We would not long for heaven
If earth held only joy.
William G. Coltman
Some folk say they can’t possess the pearl because they don’t want to disappoint Him. I want to be Christian but I know I’ll be a hypocrite. And I would rather not be a hypocrite.
You Dummy!
He already knows how mess up you are. All He wants to do is help you get straighten out! He knows how to it!
That’s why He said in John 6“Come as you are” John 15 “Without Me ye can do nothing”
And with God all things are possible if you believe!
Just hurry up and give you life to Jesus, learn how He wants you to live and ask His Holy Spirit to give you the power to walk that way!
We underestimate the love, power, strength, mercy and grace of our God!
What a Friend
Jesus is the pearl of Great Price – I found what I need (sell everything else) He will do me no hurt or wrong!
I wouldn’t trade Him in for nothing!
I just pray I’ll always be faithful
The story is told of Rose Greenhow, a Confederate spy during the Civil War, who tried to evade capture and the loss of her fortune by sewing the gold she had gained into the seams of her dress. But the ship she boarded sank, and the weight of the gold made it impossible for the life preserver to support her. She sank to the bottom with all her wealth. Dr. Pierce Harris, who told the story, pointed out that death did to her what it does to all of us, because we "cannot take it with us" when we die. But sometimes, we might add, it takes us with it!
Do we have the Pearl of Great price today? Or counterfeit pearls?
What do you have?
I have my bank account, house and car
My clothes, my toys and Games --- Jesus don’t put your treasure where moth and rust doth corrupt or where thieves break through and steal.
My friends, My boyfriend, girlfriend, myself – the arm of flesh will fail you (tell) ye dare not trust your own!
Is what you Got worth a lot? Or is it just fool’s gold? Is it just a orange in a coconut? A means where the enemy can keep you occupied until he’s got you in his net?
Have you found it yet or are you still searching?
Is it in his hands what you have? Cause if it’s not it’s going to rise up and bite you where it hurts.
Let it go
Proverbs 16:16 (KJV)
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold ! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver !
[2]
John 6:35 (KJV)
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst . [3]
Luke 14:33 (KJV)
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple . [4]
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[1]Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1993). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (10th ed.). Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster.
[2] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[3] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[4] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
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