Does It Cost Too Much?

by David Gibson

The parable is only one verse long, but what a lesson is packed in those few words!

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).

Unlike the treasure-finder in Jesus’ parable, the Rich Young Ruler came upon a treasure he was unwilling to sell all to obtain.

What a contrast!

One sold, one kept; one was happy, the other sad. Why the difference? One man focused on what he would gain, the other on what he would lose.

Jesus told the Rich Young Ruler, “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Luke 18:22). What did the young man hear Jesus say? Certainly, he heard, “Sell all,” but did he also hear, “and you will have treasure in heaven”? He heard cost, but did he hear compensation?

And we?

The clearer we see the prize we gain, the less we care about cost. “For whoever would save his life will lose it,” Jesus said, “but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

In view of all this, we could rephrase the old saying, “Finders, keepers; losers, weepers.” It should say, “Losers, finders; keepers, weepers.”

So, whatever it costs, it’s worth it!