Posted by Ling Yi Yang • Jan 29, 2022
Our Best Thought is a weekly devotional thoughtfully penned by leaders in DUMC arising from their daily devotions. The devotional’s title, “Our Best Thought” is taken from the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision” as a reference to God: “Thou my best thought, by day or by night.” Publishes on Sundays.
Scripture:
“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.
Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV)
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Matthew 13:22 (NIV)
Observation:
When Jesus began his ministry, he preached saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:17
The Lord of the Sabbath himself, far greater than Jonah and Solomon, came to announce the arrival of the kingdom. But not everyone who heard accepted Him and His message, not everyone understood what the kingdom of heaven was about. There were mixed responses.
From the parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the pearl of great value, Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven is of such great value, worth far more than all that the men had, that when they found it, they would be willing to sell everything for it, and the man in the first instance even did so with joy.
But, as I compared these men with the one in the parable of the sower, the one who receives the word of the kingdom amidst the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, I noticed a similarity and a difference.
I noticed that there was wealth or possessions involved in both instances. But the difference was what they did with them. The former sold everything, but the latter was distracted by it, and the word of the kingdom was choked by the distractions.
Application:
Did Jesus really mean EVERYTHING?
What does EVERYTHING mean?
Sometimes we might be tempted to define for ourselves what “everything” means, with the intention to limit or minimise what Jesus said.
“Jesus does not mean this…”
“He could not have meant that… Could He?”
But Jesus did not come all the way from heaven just to give us a word that would tickle our ears and entertain our hearts for a brief moment, while leaving us unchanged to continue living our lives pursuing trivialities just like the rest of the world. Nor does He call us to ‘sign this insurance plan, pay the monthly premium, and have peace of mind for the rest of our lives’.
The reality of the kingdom of heaven is worth far more than all that we have, and demands a response from us — a response that reveals our ultimate allegiance. For we cannot serve two masters.
Also, I do not think this is a one off deal, as if we can look back and say: “Yes, I did this once a long time ago.” But rather, it is a constant decision to prioritise the kingdom above all else, and daily giving our all for the kingdom of heaven.
Now whether practically speaking this means selling everything or not, is a question between ourselves and God. But Jesus does warn us about the dangers of the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth, which can choke the word of the kingdom.
John Piper once commented that “Wealth is almost always a curse, not a blessing”.
Are we selling all that we have for the kingdom of heaven, or are we allowing ourselves to be distracted by them?
Response:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the word of the kingdom that You have given to us through Your Son Jesus. Examine our hearts and reveal to us areas that we need to repent. Forgive us for treasuring trivialities in our hearts. Help us to see and to treasure the true value and worth of the kingdom of heaven, that we may joyfully pray “Your kingdom come.” In Your Son’s name we pray, Amen.
Ling Yi Yang is interning with Equip for his seminary studies.
Our Best Thought is a weekly devotional that follows DUMC’s Bible Reading Plan. Posts on Sundays.