Pearl of Great Price
The Bible says the kingdom of God is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of real worth, he sells everything he has and buys that pearl. Of course, according to traditional thinking, man is the pearl of great price and Jesus the merchant who sells everything to make the purchase. Now I understand that He is the pearl of great price, and man the merchant.
So when man finds Jesus, it costs him everything.
Jesus has happiness, joy, peace, healing, security, eternity.
Man marvels at such a pearl and says, “I want this pearl.
How much does it cost?”
The seller says, “It’s too dear, too costly.”
“But how much?”
“Well, it’s very expensive.”
“Do you think I could buy it?”
“Oh, of course. Anybody can.”
“But you say it’s too expensive. How much is it?”
“It costs everything you have—no more, no less—so anybody can buy it.”
“I’ll buy it.”
“What do you have? Let’s write it down.”
“I have $10,000 in the bank.” “Good, $10,000. What else?”
“I have nothing more. That’s all I have.”
“Have you nothing more?”
“Well, I have some dollars here in my pocket.” “How many?”
“I’ll see: 30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120—120 dollars.” “That’s fine. What else do you have?”
“I have nothing else. That’s all.”
“Where do you live?”
“I live in my house.”
“The house too.”
“Then you mean I must live in the garage?”
“Have you a garage, too? That too. What else?” “Do you mean that I must live in my car, then?” “Have you a car?”
“I have two.”
“Both become mine. Both cars. What else?”
“Well, you have the house, the garage, the cars, the money, everything.”
“What else?”
“I have nothing else.”
“Are you alone in the world?”
“No, I have a wife, two children. . . .“ “Your wife and your children too.”
“Too?”
“Yes, everything you have. What else?”
“I have nothing else, I am left alone now.”
“Oh, you too. Everything. Everything becomes mine:
wife, children, house, garage, cars, money, clothing, every thing. And you too. Now you can use all those things here but don’t forget they are mine, as you are. When I need any of the things you are using you must give them to me because now I am the owner.”