"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 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" Matthew 13:44-46
These two verses have really struck a chord with me lately. I've been reading Desiring God by John Piper, and his chapter on Suffering is very challenging. In America, it feels hard to truly suffer for Christ. At least at first glance. Upon second glance, it may be very easy to suffer here. Our comfort with explicit content and sexuality has translated into its adoption into common nature. We ignore it, or even blindly support it. I would say that I struggle by choosing a life opposite of that. I don't drink heavily, though I might want to. I don't have a life of hedonism built on egotism, womanizing, or surrounding myself with reminders of my own wealth; though I might want to. Rather, my hedonism is in Christ; I find my joy in His Glory. And for that I suffer.
I fight the urges to spoil myself with what is so pleasantly advertised, yet the struggle persists.The reflection on these verses help me keep it all in perspective. I've heard the adage "You don't see a hearse being followed by a carriage carrying gold," but how often do I allow that to disturb me? What we gain on Earth we will lose.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" - Jim Elliot
Jesus chose to suffer for the glory of the Father. And I challenge that we should as well. Imagine a world where all Christians sold all we had to gain the treasure that we have found. Would we still have poverty? Would fathers still abandon families if there is no greener grass than on the grass we stand? Consider the resources a population as large as the body of Christ could attain, and could use to meet the needs of others.
We are often so short-sighted in scope. How many churches only reinvest in themselves? After all, only Christians give to the church, "let society give to society." Oh, but what of faith! Let Christ sustain the church, and allow the church to try and alleviate the pain of man.
Our might is in the Glory of the Son. We are naught but trees who have forgotten what waters our roots. Only by the rays of Christ will we ever grow fruit. Only by the blood of Jesus...
