MOTORCYCLES, MINISTRY & THE MAGNIFICENT
BLOG HOST, 9-15-2010
HOST: JAY MARTIN
Matthew 13
Do you remember growing up and getting that one special present that meant the world to you? For me, it was a red Honda XR100 motorcycle. I was pretty young, and the motor in my little Honda 50 motorbike literally fell out of the motorcycle. I knew my mom didn’t have a lot of money, so on that special Christmas, I didn’t expect anything as wonderful as this brand new motorcycle. But on Christmas morning, a big delivery truck rolled up to our house, and out rolled the shiny red motorcycle. The joy I felt, the love for my mother, and excitement has never been matched by any present since. I still have that little motorcycle today, and it was a great gift.
Too many times in our society, though, we find significance by the things we own. While the motorcycle was precious to me and I still own it, it is still just a motorcycle. Unfortunately too many times, our self-worth is tied up in what we own. We live lives that are somewhat upside down.
In today’s reading, Jesus tells several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s look at verses 44-46: "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. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Jesus says that God’s Kingdom is like a hidden treasure, that once discovered for the value it truly is, one must sell all to gain it. It is precious, rare and worth everything we have. It is certainly more valuable than material possessions.
It is interesting that sometimes it is good things that compete with making God’s Kingdom and our relationship with Jesus Christ most important. For some it is family, and for others even ministry.
When the Metro ministry was beginning, one of the encouraging scriptures I read was this: verses 31-33: “He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
I remember what an encouragement to me these parables were, as I realized that God’s kingdom always starts small, yet grows stronger and stronger. My job was not to be discouraged as we took one step forward and two steps back at Metro in those early days. Instead, I must be faithful. Jesus was taking my seemingly insignificant and small efforts and doing what only He can do—the unseen blessing of growth that seeds and yeast represent and depict so well. When the mustard seed grows up, it is no longer insignificant, but becomes a great tree, where the birds can rest in its branches. I was convinced—if I would be faithful, some day a ministry would flourish where children could come and find rest, blessing and destiny. I am thankful today children come every week and find their destiny through ROCK Kids’ Ministry. Students come every week and are challenged to become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ through Revolution Student Ministry.
So, no matter how insignificant the ministry you are doing may seem, there is power in small acts of service when coupled with the miracle-working power of God. Pretty cool, huh?
And yet, ministry, as important as it is, can never replace selling all for the one pearl of great price. That ONE thing is not something insignificant like a motorcycle, or something significant like ministry—instead it is the magnificence of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the pearl of great price—the One for whom we sell all and follow. He is the One for whom we hunger, and the only one who can satisfy.
One day, as Jesus instructs through other parables, the only thing that will matter is whether we “sold” everything to make Jesus first priority. Some day, there will be a sorting of those who decide for Jesus, and those who reject Him. But for today, I cannot imagine a life focused on anything else other than Jesus. He is our significance.
Jesus’ words are radical. He expects reckless abandon—yet the person who found the pearl of great price had joy in selling everything. I pray that I will never under-value what is truly precious. If we see Jesus as He truly is, hoarding our worthless stuff will seem like such a waste. What is it that you need to hold on to more lightly to abandon completely to Jesus?
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