Matthew 13:45
Summary
There is no greater treasure than to be saved
The Parable
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Lesson
The greatest treasure that there is, greater than all the silver, all the gold, is to be saved. For, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” There is nothing that we should let prevent us from gaining our salvation, nothing that we should let stand in our way. For this life is here but for a moment, but eternity is forever. We gain did we really have, if we choose treasure, pleasure, or some other earthly situation here, but have our eternal abode in hell?
Compare this with the rich young ruler, Matthew 19:16ff. For he saw what was good for a man to do, for he had diligently followed the law. But when there was a further price for his salvation, the giving up of all that he had, he was unwilling, for his heart was set on his possessions, and “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” Matthew 6:21.
This also is an ongoing state of heart; for it isn’t enough to give it all up in the beginning, whatever would separate us from the Lord, only to have it capture us again. We have to constantly be of a heart to always choose the Lord first. It is always right to put Him first.
This is a lesson we can take from Martha and Mary; for Martha was concerned about the meal she was preparing for the Lord, but Mary sat at His feet and listened to Him. When Martha bid Him to have Mary help her serve, the Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her,” Luke 10:41-42. Martha was worried about the earthly preparations, but Mary chose the spiritual preparations. There will always be something to do on the earthly side of things, but let us put the Lord first.