“Compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ, everything else is worthless” (Phil 3:8). When the pearl-hunter “found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matt.13:46). “Whom (not what) have I in heaven but you? I desire you (Jesus) more than anything on earth” (Psalm 73:25).
Lord Jesus, when it comes to math, terms like “differential equations, normalizing vectors, or transposing matrices” make me break out into a cold sweat. I can’t imagine having to take the math portion of the ACT, SAT, or anything remotely close. But there’s one form of math your Spirit teaches us, the Gospel makes easy, and we’re called to practice every day—the heart-math of determining true and lasting value.
When it comes to assessing the worth, desirability, essentialness of anything—all kinds of voices, brokers, bankers, and opinions come into play. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. One woman’s “must-have” is another’s doorway to destruction. One generation’s “pearl of great value” is the next’s passing fancy and yawn. One couple’s “We will have made it if X, Y, and Z” … ten years later will be their “What. Were. We. Thinking?”
But Lord Jesus—in our most Gospel-sane, eternity-thinking, heart-centered moments, we know that you alone are worthy of everything we have and are. Nothing can compare with the “excellency of knowing you,” being known and loved by you, belonging to you, Jesus—now and forever. You’re not just the pearl maker, you are the Pearl. On this very cold (for many of us!) Saturday, we affirm this to be true… hands down, microphone dropped, end of conversation. Jesus, for the rest of 2024—reconvince, reconvict, re-establish this as our strongest passion and deepest delight. So Very Amen.