To become a disciple.
I finished the Gospel of Matthew last week, and my mind won't stop reeling. One parable in particular stopped me in my tracks. One verse. Two sentences. A beautiful depiction of giving to gain. And I'm convicted.
Speaking to his disciples, Jesus says, "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" (Matthew 13:44).
Did you catch that? The kingdom of heaven is our treasure.
It is rare. Valuable. A prize. Paul describes this treasure as "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). So you and I?
Our Treasure is more radiant than rubies, more splendid than silver, more costly than gold.
Our Treasure cannot be tarnished, devalued, or stolen.
Our Treasure is great-made-least, high-made-low, God-made-man.
Our Treasure is Jesus Christ.
And because our Treasure is priceless - because our Prize is the nail-pierced hands and the empty tomb - shouldn't we be willing to give everything for it?
Think about it for a moment. The man in the parable is so full of joy when he discovers the treasure that he sells all.his.possessions.
Selling all your possessions to purchase buried treasure? Sounds crazy. Risky. Foolish. But the man in the parable has seen the treasure. He knows that the prize buried in the field is more valuable than anything he owns. He's not taking a risk at all.
He knows that what he stands to gain is infinitely more valuable than what he stands to lose.
So he forfeits everything. With joy.
That's when it hits me. The cost of being a disciple is more than simply following orders. Or saying a quick prayer. Or being a good person.
The cost of being a disciple is giving to gain.
And really, this shouldn't surprise me. After all, Jesus makes it clear that his disciples must forfeit their wealth to follow him: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21). In other words, give away your earthly riches so that you might receive a heavenly reward. Try telling that to your wealth manager or retirement planner! Sounds crazy. Risky. Foolish. But just like the man in the parable, this sacrifice involves little risk. Jesus asks us to part with that which is momentary to pursue that which is eternal. What we stand to gain far outweighs what we stand to lose.
To become a disciple, we must give our earthly possessions so that we might gain heavenly riches.
Jesus takes the idea of giving to gain a step further when he says, "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first" (Matthew 19:29-30). First Jesus wants his followers to part with their riches. Now he asks his disciples to say goodbye to home and family. Seems like a daunting request. Yet Jesus promises to reward those who make this sacrifice. And this reward? It's not a consolation prize. Those who forfeit their earthly homes and families will receive a hundred times more than they've lost. And they will be called first in the kingdom of heaven.
To become a disciple, we must give our homes and families so that we might gain eternal life.
In addition to giving possessions and family and home, Jesus informs his disciples that they must be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if they wish to follow him. They must be willing to forfeit their lives: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25). I read the words, and I catch my breath. To save my life, I must lose it.
To become a disciple, we must give our lives so that we might gain a new life in Christ.
So Jesus expects his followers to forfeit their riches, their homes, their families, and their lives to follow him. It's a bit overwhelming, right?
But. One thought should bring us to our knees. One thought should make us lift our hands in praise. One thought should make us desire, crave, yearn to give.
Jesus Christ - our Treasure - is not asking us to sacrifice anything he has not already sacrificed.
Riches? Jesus gave up his heavenly crown to don a crown of thorns.
Home? Jesus parted with the splendor of his heavenly home to walk the dusty streets of Galilee.
Family? Jesus left his all-powerful, perfect Father to minister to the weak, the sick, the lonely.
Life? Jesus - who was and is and is to come - endured death so that we might live.
And when you think about that - about what Jesus has already sacrificed - giving becomes a privilege. An opportunity. A joy.
Because we don't have to give up wealth and home and family and life to satisfy the demands of an oppressive God.
No, we get to forsake that which is temporary to pursue that which is eternal.
We get to write a love story to our Savior. With our riches. Our homes. Our families. Our lives.
We get to give so that we might gain.
Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
We are not fools. We are disciples. And we take joy in giving to gain.
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