Sermon Tone Analysis

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.