Faithful on Fridays Blog

Pearl of Great Price

The Greek word for pearl is margaritas, no, I’m not joking.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! Matthew 13:45-46 NLT

Even though this parable ends the same way as the Hidden Treasure, Jesus chose a different type of character this time: a merchant. This salesman began his day like every other day as he went to work searching for his trade: pearls. That’s the contrast from the Hidden Treasure; this salesman was on a mission to find choice pearls and make a lot of money.

Having no idea in his search that day he’d be lucky enough to find one pearl of mega-value he simply went to work. In the Hidden Treasure the man wasn’t searching and yet he found, however, in this story he was diligently seeking that fine pearl and also found. What’s Jesus’ point?

Consider two words: divine providence. Simply put, God is sovereign and in control of everything in our universe, period. Since the word providence comes from two words, pro-video, it’s as if God made a video, in advance, of our lives. He’s known us from before we were born and cares deeply about us. It’s never by chance that someone comes to salvation: it’s His providence. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory. Romans 8:28-30 NLT

Consider Saul of Tarsus. He hated Christians and sought to persecute them but God knew Saul’s future and directed his path toward that outcome. Divine Providence. Seeking God or not seeking God, He’s always in control: He’s sovereign. Thankfully, our free will cannot override His providential care and direction or Saul wouldn’t have become Paul.

So, back to this salesman; he was a seeker. His purposeful search, involving time and effort, yielded the desired results as he found one and it was a beauty. This was his day. That daily desire drove him to search for pearls; I’d like that attitude. Being a seeker isn’t spiritually immature, it’s constantly desiring to find those pearls that lead us to know God better. Seek first, Jesus said, the kingdom of God, consequently, when you keep diligently seeking you’ll always find. 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 ESV

It’s time to go and find that margarita.