1. Life’s Purpose/Focus: What Treasure are You Seeking? (Time/Money)

2. Life’s Purpose/Focus: What Treasure are You Seeking?
Mt 13:44,45,46 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. v.45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,v.46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

3. Mt 5:1,2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain: and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them . . .
John 1:40,41 One of the two who heard John speak (“Behold, the Lamb of God!) and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).

4. Mt 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Jesus does not deal with the integrity problem here. The point is that a great treasure has been discovered and the man does what is necessary to possess the treasure.
The treasure was not taken or stolen away – just not “reported.” It is “desired” and obtained thru legal means
The finder goes through the necessary procedures required to gain ownership of the treasure.

5. The treasure is found – it is not searched or hunted for.
Mt 4:23, 9:35, 11:5 and others refer to Jesus preaching the “Gospel/Good News” to His audiences.
John 3:36, 5:24, 6:68 These verses all have reference to the fact that Jesus was preaching His message of eternal life.
The finder went to great lengths to obtain something that was better than what he already had: “…from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” evangelism

6. SUMMARY: Something of great value is found and all action necessary is taken in order to own it.
John 10:10 Jesus say that He as come to bring us an “abundant life.” Have we take all the necessary steps to acquire this “abundant life” that we have been promised?

7. Heb 11:6 … for who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Mt 6:31, 33 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or “What will we drink?’ or “What will we wear for clothing?’ “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Solomon’s requests for wisdom was granted to him along with the other things he did not request: long life, wealth, honor and fame.

8. The merchant has begun to seek something of great value – a pearl.
Mt 13:45,46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The merchant has begun to seek something of great value – a pearl.

9. Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples … baptizing them….”
Lk 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
I Cor 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples … baptizing them….”
Ambassador: …”as though God were making an appeal thru us…”
Our GREAT PEARL is the message of Christ.

10. SUMMARY: We need to determine what “pearl” we want to find:
abundant life
saving the lost
Obtain it, purchase it and share it !!!

11. Mt 6:33 “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Lk 17:33 “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”
Mk 8:35,36 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”

12. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Final Summary: Once we have found our “Great Pearl” we must be willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to acquire it.
James 2:17,18 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. … I will show you my faith by my works.”