This week, we’re continuing our message series as we go through the parables of Jesus and learn from Him how to truly live life to its fullest.

A parable is a simple story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus said that He taught using parables so that the secrets of His Kingdom would only be understood by those seeking after this revelation.

Last week, we learned from a few of Jesus’ parables the importance of the ‘lil things in life that may seem insignificant to us, but that are tremendously valuable to Him. Along the same theme, we’re being challenged this week again on the topic of value. Last week, it was on the value we place on the ‘lil things that we do in this life. This week, the focus is on the value that we place on the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus gave us these parables to teach us:

Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

In our culture, much of our lives are consumed by value. Many families spend 80+ hours at workplaces to bring in enough income to raise their families. Prices of fuel, food, healthcare, and just about everything else continue to rise. The stress to pay routine household bills along with the cost of education, preparing for retirement, investment in sports and other extra-curricular activities, and trying to invest in time simply spent together is huge.

We are so consumed with the high value of all of the things of this world that we often consider lastly, or outright neglect, the value of our spiritual lives. We neglect Biblical literacy, shaping strong character, making good moral choices, and the critical impact that these things have on every area of life.

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure or pearl of great price. The one who finds it, sees its value, and is willing to give up every earthly thing for it. Jesus literally taught in the parable that the one who found a hidden treasure, with joy sold ALL that he had to buy that field. Jesus literally taught in the parable that the one who found the find pearl of great value, sold EVERYTHING he had to buy it.

These parables of Jesus were not intended to teach that we should all live in absolute poverty relying on other people for everything. The rest of the word of God clearly teaches us that this is not His will for our lives. The emphasis and focus of these parables was not on what we give up in this life for the kingdom of Heaven, but clearly on what value we place on it. So often, we get this wrong. If we count the cost, we have not seen the worth of the kingdom of heaven.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in having earthly wealth and possessions of great worldly value. However, if we gain those, but lack heavenly treasure, then we have wasted our lives. Our investments will be ripped from our hands and given to others. In the end, we will be left with nothing. Jesus says it this way to the church:

Revelation 3:15-18

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Jesus taught yet another parable on this same subject of what we consider to be valuable in this life. In fact, Jesus taught on this issue very often. This should cause each one of us to stop and take inventory of our lives. What a