God's Market Analysis

S - Matthew 13:44-46 (TLJ): "God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure. He hid it again and was so happy that he went and sold everything he owned and bought the field. Also, God's kingdom is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. One day he found a very fine pearl. He went and sold everything he had to buy it."

O - God's kingdom is like, found, and sold everything. These are the shared words in the parables Jesus tells us about his Father's kingdom.  The kingdom is beautiful, valuable. It is worth the price paid according to experts (merchants) and treasure seekers alike.  The price is the same for all … no discounts for first time buyers or for industry insiders. Though the price does not vary this "item" remains available to all.  It simply costs everything.  This is not a comparative amount.  Little or big, weak or strong, religious or secular, expensive or cheap, all he wants is all.  This is the greatest commandment.  This is the exchange … he gave everything for us and now allows us to respond in like kind.  

A - I never thought that giving all would include my credential as a "minister". I have discovered it does.  All includes church positions, reputations, salaries, benefits and the like.  It's not that we can never have such but rather that all are given to Jesus and then he decides all the rest. Giving everything is not a onetime shot because over time we just accumulate.  It's not wrong that we do it's just that the price for possessing the kingdom never fluctuates. Yesterday, today and tomorrow God's kingdom is like the treasure and the pearl; it is ours for the finding and it still costs everything.  Today, everything is the price I am more than willing to pay:)!

P - Lord of and over everything,
Thank you for your generosity to me and to our planet.  Thank you for the dignity of giving to you the way you've given to us.  Thank you for enabling me/us to always be able to "afford" to possess your kingdom … the treasure and pearl of lasting value.  Lord, today let me be a reason someone else would believe.  Lord, today cause your life to come into me and out of me.  I love you back.
All in,
Steve