God Who Seeks Treasure

We often hear sermons about giving up everything for God. But what if these famous parables from Matthew 13 are actually about what God gave up for us?

The Twist: You're Not the Seeker

In the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, someone finds treasure in a field and a merchant discovers a valuable pearl. Both sell everything they have to obtain what they found. Traditionally, we're told we must be willing to sacrifice everything for the kingdom. But here's the revelation: You're not the buyer. You're what was bought.

Christ is the seeker. You are the treasure hidden in the field. You are the pearl of great price. And He joyfully gave up everything—His glory, His divine privilege, His very life—to obtain you.

From Irritation to Beauty

Ever wonder how a pearl forms? A grain of sand gets inside an oyster, causing irritation and suffering. Over time, that irritation transforms into something beautiful. The struggles you're facing—that job loss, that relationship strain, that burden you're carrying—God wants to transform those irritations into something precious.

The Joy Factor

Here's what changes everything: Jesus didn't reluctantly sacrifice Himself. The text says He did it "in His joy." He wasn't obligated or guilted into it. He saw you as worth it, and that motivated everything.

Living From, Not For

So what does this mean for generous giving? Simple: You can't give what you haven't received. You can only love to the degree you know you're loved. When you truly grasp that Christ sold everything to purchase you, generosity stops being effort and becomes overflow. It's not about performing to earn God's love—it's responding because you already have it.

The Christian life isn't about chasing the kingdom. It's about living from the reality that the King already claimed you as His own. You're already the treasure. Now live like it.