The Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:44-46
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

Not long ago, I read a jeweler’s excellent interpretation of this parable. I have to share some of his thoughts and then relate it to our situation as those on a journey to be effective healthy believers.

In our text today, we read that a merchant sold all that he had to purchase a single pearl. But why, of all things, a pearl? Why a pearl and not a diamond? The diamond is more coveted, today, is worth much more than a pearl. Some of you may know that the diamond is graded according to the 4 C’s: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat-weight. These will determine the diamonds value, but the diamond receives a significant part of its value from the way a person cuts it—the work of a man’s hand!

Consider the pearl, the only natural gemstone that has highest value just as it is. We can’t improve a pearl.

God’s salvation works the same way. We as humans can’t add anything to salvation. God paid the price in full—and what a tremendous price it was, his son, Jesus. He left heaven and took humanity upon himself to claim what our heavenly Father saw as a precious pearl. He claimed you and I by paying a price, the greatest price, more than any could ever pay.

Here we are a couple of weeks into 2021, and it seems that things have only ratcheted up in pressure and anxiety. But take a moment, and consider the incredible work of God in our lives and realize this: the price was paid for you as you are. Not when you are thin. Not when you are healthy. But right where you are, even if you are broken, hurting and under a mountain of stress.

Triple D: Consider that our quest to become healthy is because we love God. Not because we will be more valuable to him, or loved more by him. We strive to live for him because we can bring honor to him out of our love for him.