Thought for the Day - Thursday 30 July

Thought for the Day – Thursday 30^th July

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”’ (Matthew 13: 45-46)

Have you all been having a clear out during Lockdown?

I know when I have been speaking with many of you on the phone that has been exactly what you have been doing – but how do you decide what to get rid of and what to keep!

Some things are easy to clear out aren’t they – foods that are out of date, clothes that are too big or too small, bedding or cushions that no longer fit with your décor and so on.

However, for some other things it can be really hard to discard them because you have given them a worth and value them in some way or another, be that monetary or sentimentally, and so these thing become harder to discard even if you don’t really need them. It then becomes a case of what is more important to you and what are you willing to give up in order to have that tidy, organised and neat environment you so desire in which to live.

When you think about it that is often the way in life where we have to make choices, we have to decide which thing, which activity or which event is more important or of more value to us.  

Well, just in case we did not fully understand or take on board Jesus’ message from his parable of the treasure in the field he now tells us one more time what should be the most important and most valuable thing in our life and that is the kingdom of heaven.

Rather as the man did in selling everything he had to buy that field when he found the treasure in it – so the pearl merchant in finding the greatest pearl sells all he has to buy that one pearl of great value.

You see, neither of these people valued their own things, their own possessions as much as they valued the opportunity to have that treasure or that pearl.  

Well, if as Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like that pearl of great value, if what Jesus has to offer us is so great, so valuable, then surely there is nothing in our lives worth keeping, nothing in our lives more valuable if it means we cannot be part of the kingdom of heaven. 

I suppose we could say Jesus is saying we need to recognise that it is our relationship with God and with him which is the most valuable thing in our life and that brings to us the kingdom of heaven.

So it is a choice for us, if we value in our lives those things, activities or events more than that relationship with God and Jesus then those self-same things might just be keeping us from being part of the kingdom of heaven.  

Prayer

Loving Lord,

In all things may we firstly seek you, your kingdom and your righteousness. May we ever trust in your love, your care, your compassion and your mercy above all else. Help us to recognise the value of the gift you have given us in Jesus, and the opportunity we have to be part of the kingdom of heaven. Give to us a willingness to share that gift with other they they too may come to know you and be part of the kingdom of heaven here on earth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.