The Merchant And The Pearl |

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46

You might see a person with a successful career, houses, cars, and wealth. You might even see him helping the poor and being a friend to the hurting. He is known for supporting outcasts, standing up for his friends, and generously rewarding his loyal employees. You could label him as successful. Or, you could call him by his name. His name is Al…Al Capone.

He was successful, but we cannot call his “success” good because God was definitely displeased with how he achieved it. How do you define success? While many different answers exist, we all too often define it as the world does. However, as believers, we must always return to God’s Word and seek the biblical definition of success.

Some people believe that success means achieving financial freedom. For others, it signifies having more time or greater fulfillment. Success for us may also include being recognized by others as successful. As Christians, we need to return to the biblical foundations of defining success. We should focus on God’s definition of the kind of success that benefits His Kingdom.

Worldly standards do not define biblical success. Jesus, in many regards, looked like a failure to the world. True success should always reflect God’s purpose for our lives, the use of our spiritual gifts, and the opportunities God provides us to serve Him better. It is never simply about doing a good job or achieving something. Results do not measure success; it is measured by obedience.

May I confess something to you? According to the world’s standards, I have never been as successful in the ministry as I was in the secular world. I have never received the money, recognition, rewards, or approval in the ministry that I earned in the world. I received numerous promotions, awards, and bonuses. I continued in my secular job for about four years after I became a Christian, and during that time, I used my position to witness for Christ, leading several coworkers to our Lord. I used my income to support God’s work and help those in need. I was successful, but I wasn’t where God wanted me to be. Please let me make this clear, it was not where God wanted me to be. Such a place might be exactly where He wants you, but it was not where He wanted me.

I kept climbing higher and higher up the ladder of success until one day I realized my ladder was leaning against the wrong tree. The tree was not bad; it was just the wrong tree. My true ministry, the one God called me to pursue, could be best fulfilled within a ministry, a place dedicated to serving Christ. The company I worked for, the one that had been so good to me, the one that had given me the opportunity to succeed, was not in business to minister but to make a profit.

Now, as a capitalist, I don’t oppose any honest business making a profit. However, as a Christian businessman, my primary job, in which I worked about 60 hours a week, was not to serve Christ but to generate profits for my employer. Furthermore, if the business ever ceased to make a profit, it would close. Again, some very dedicated Christians could do that and be totally within God’s will, but, like so many other things, there has been a long list of things that God would not allow me to do. To accomplish my ministry, I had to work within the framework of a ministry, not a business. The question was not, with my spiritual gifts, where can I glorify God, because I could do that anywhere. Instead, the question became, where could I glorify God the most?

The path God gave me is most likely not the one you’re on; I understand that. However, God has laid out a path for you. You don’t need to keep throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. God has already prepared the way. The biblical definition of success is trusting God’s plan and the beautiful life God has already created for you.

In Matthew 13, we have a great collection of parables; mustard seed, leaven, buried treasure, pearls, dragnets, and more, all neatly packed into one place. We know they are about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, but otherwise, their exact meanings are a bit uncertain. It is helpful to remember that the parables aren’t meant to have precise meanings anyway. Instead, they are designed to puzzle, to disturb, and to challenge our usual ways of thinking. They are encouraging us to keep returning again and again, exploring a wide range of interpretations. They provoke us to think more profound thoughts. They invite us to expand our imaginations and better understand the nature of man and of the God we serve.

Regarding parables and referring to Isaiah 6, the Lord instructs us in Mark 4:11-12 that the purpose of parables is to reveal the truth to humble hearts and conceal the truth from hard hearts.

As we look again at Matthew 13:45, it seems easy enough to understand. The merchant must be a disciple, and the pearl is Jesus. Or, perhaps Jesus is the merchant and the Kingdom is the pearl. Then again, could it be that the pearl is the church and Jesus is the merchant? Could it be any of those possibilities? Could there be even more? Maybe the parable is about our need to sacrifice what we have to follow Jesus, what we might call the “cost of discipleship.” If so, remember that the merchant isn’t just throwing everything away; he’s trading it in to buy something he wants more. He had a loss, but also a gain.

The Scripture also does not tell us what he does with this pearl. Perhaps he hides it away in a closet. Maybe he is not even sure why he wants this pearl so badly. Are you confused yet? We might see nuggets of truth in all the possibilities, but we know we need to do some digging. The truth is in there somewhere. Or, perhaps there is more than one truth hidden there; some Scriptures are designed that way.

One interesting facet about this story is that at the end, the merchant essentially withdraws from his business. Did you notice that? He appears to be giving up his livelihood. How is he going to make a living? By this decision, he is no longer a merchant. All he has is one pearl, which he does not intend to let go of. He has redefined himself by making one decision.

Now, we see what is happening. He has become a new man. He is not the same old merchant he used to be. He’s now the guy who knows he possesses something of great value, and he is not about to give it up! What’s more, he knows that if this “pearl” is something beyond all the other fine pearls, it can only increase in value. He will literally be able to live off the interest. This can change the way we look at all the other things he has been chasing! All the other stuff, whether they be diamonds or money, the right schools, the right job, the right neighborhood, the perfect family, all of those things he’s been trading for, fine as they may be, still left him with an unshakable feeling that he was missing something. This man has finally concluded that he must divest himself of all the things he has been chasing to make room for something of even more profound and lasting value. Is this story about you? I know it is about me! I found the great pearl and ceased to be a merchant. That’s simple enough.

That is what God wanted for me. I was to let go of every ounce of my self-righteous certainty and divest myself from all those fine pearls of what I thought defined me as successful, and have the courage to grab onto a deeper identity. I was to lay claim to something greater, even before I was sure what it was.

My carefully contrived self-image had to be relinquished. If I were no longer restrained by being a merchant, what else could I be? What else could you be? That doesn’t mean you can’t continue serving God right where you are. I could not do that, but I clearly understand that many can. If it is God’s will for your life, I applaud it and respect it. But perhaps even within the confines of where you are right now, God still wants you to place a higher priority on representing Christ. After all, He is a treasure of priceless value.

However, although I have purposely presented our Lord in this light to help you understand the multiple layers of the parables, I need to tell you that in this parable, Jesus is not the pearl of great price; you are. Now, let’s get back to our Scripture.

I said earlier that the parables aren’t meant to have a clear meaning. Instead, they are designed to puzzle, to disturb, and to challenge our ways of thinking, encouraging us to keep returning again and again, exploring a wide range of interpretations. Parables reveal truth, sometimes in many layers, to those who seek it, while concealing truth from those who don’t really want it.

Verse 44 obviously refers to Israel, hidden, found, and hidden again until God comes to redeem the field. However, in Verses 45-46, the pearl of great price is the church. It is you and I, whom the very lifeblood of Christ has purchased. Have you noticed how often God instructs us to do as He does? He tells us to love as He loves, to work as He works, and to forgive as He forgives. Here we have the same principle. Here, He asks you to value Him as He values you. Serve Him and cherish Him, as He serves and cherishes you. In these verses, you and I are the pearl, and Jesus gives His very life to redeem us for Himself. But now, here is where it turns around; now you and I should be willing to do the same for Him.

So, here is the message: if you are where God wants you to be. If you are where your ministry can best shine, where you can serve Him fully and wholeheartedly, then you must shine right where you are. We need believers out there shining in the world. However, for others, you might shine better, or have more opportunities to shine, or better utilize your Spiritual gifts somewhere else. Perhaps like me, your ministry might need to be linked to another ministry to flourish. If so, that is where you need to be. After all, you belong to Christ, and you have been bought with a great price. You are His pearl, and He should be yours.

Dr. Worthington has been in the ministry for nearly fifty years and serves as President of Pathway Ministries and Christian Bible College.