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.

When the Apple computer company fell on difficult years back, it's young chairman, Steve Jobs, traveled to New York City to convince Pepsi Co's director, John Sculley, to move west and turn the company around. Sculley said “Financially you'd have to give me million dollar salary, a million dollar bonus, and million dollar severance."

Flabbergasted, Jobs agreed - if Sculley would move to California, but he would commit only to being a consultant from New York. Then Steve Jobs said this,  "Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life, or do you want to come with me and change the world?" In his autobiography Sculley admits that challenge knocked the wind out of him. He was so caught up with his future at Pepsi, his pension, and whether his family could adapt to life in California that the opportunity to change the world almost passed him by.

 

Many people don't recognize a chance to change the world. Part of the Christian message is letting people know what a difference the gospel makes.

 

Jesus put it in two simple parables. Consider the value of your pursuits and respond carefully. Your response to God's offer of the kingdom will affect your whole eternity.

 

From these parables, I am afraid some are so caught up in their own lives they miss the greatest treasure. God's kingdom is like a mystery, or hidden treasure. For many it is unseen and unrealized. Yet, for many others, the joy of receiving something so worthwhile deserves our  giving all that we have. The thought is not on sacrifice, but excitement.   

 

Interestingly, it seems that from our vantage point, one does not appreciate the kingdom until after he has received it. Salvation is more greatly appreciated after we have received it and realized what it is.  The more it grows and is allowed to grow in our lives the more we want it.

   

This is true of the kingdom of Heaven.