Is it worth it?

Is it worth it?

What are you willing to give up for your faith. Yesterday was the first time I have been to church in about a month…I have been out of town or not feeling well enough to step foot in church. With the scorching heat that feels like it is roughly 108 degrees we had service in the lounge (air conditioned part of the church which in the 50’s was the sanctuary) Any ways back on subject. I have been babysitting the last week, meaning I didn’t see my own bed until late Friday night. In my head I think all the stress I feel all the time with these kids has to be worth it. It is a good experience, good way to get to know them, a good way to experience something new like being a parent in a way. In my head I kept repeating the words “is this worth it” I needed a break come midweek ….just an hour or so away from kids that weren’t mine. I needed the break to keep my sanity and to keep my mood semi positive. As I thought I still kept asking myself is it worth the money I will be making on the side to suffer through this for one week. It is only 2 families here another one there…I can handle this. Well all of those thoughts are on the side….(I made it! The week and weekend of babysitting is over) I bet your asking how is this story related to the church talk I started with?? Well that is the line that was repeated during the sermon on Sunday…

“Is it worth it?”

Matthew 13:44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
52He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."




Wow what a parable, I love when I can sit in church and something can just hit me, reach out and touch what a week I have had, make me reflect on everything. This was the gospel lesson from yesterday’s service. Pastor O quoted a theologian that died under the hands of Hitler a man that said something like… “grace is free, but it is costly”…may not be the exact words but it is close to that (I should have written it down before now) How true are those words. A man that found the treasure and who wanted to keep it sold everything just to hold on to it. That is telling us that our grace is treasure, Christ is our treasure, God’s love is our treasure. In Matthew 4:18-20 Jesus is calling his first disciples. These men were fishermen they fished to survive in their time they did it for food/money it was a way of life. Jesus had spoken with them and told them to drop everything and follow Him, He would make them fishers of men. And they did, they dropped everything to follow Him. While grace is free because grace is a gift from God. At times it may cause us to take a hard path, a costly path, a path that we have to give up the things we love and sometimes even our lives. Does Christ’s love have as much value to us as the man that found the pearl in the parable above? A man who sold everything just so he could buy the fine pearl….Is it worth it. Is Christ love worth giving up everything…our earthly possessions, our lives? Is it worth it. Is your faith and convictions strong enough to give it all up? Would you lay down your life for him? Is it worth it? I think this is something easier said than done even those who knew Christ couldn’t do this John 13: 37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
It is written in 1 John 3:16 (not to be confused with John 3:16) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (brothers meaning our neighbors, friends, enemies, people we don’t even know)
If you were in a burning building and you could save the man lying in the hallway but knew that in doing so you would be sacrificing your own life would you safe his life or would you leave him and save your own? It isn’t something you would say to yourself…hey I’m dying for Christ here if I did safe him, I’m laying down my life for a man….but that is the truth for it is written Matthew 25:40 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
So is asking the question… “Is it worth it?” even if it cost you everything you own the answer is yes, even if it cost you your reputation the answer is yes, even if you loose your life out of that love and grace it is worth it.
Knowing the love of God, know his Grace is worth everything…it is priceless.