For the past couple of weeks I’ve sought to communicate God’s view of you with a hope that you’d come to a more healthy sense of self-love and self-acceptance. I shared two messages entitled: “Learning To Love Yourself” and “Breaking Free Of Inferiority.” Today I want to climax this emphasis by sharing a message entitled, “Why You’re Worthy from Matthew 13:44-46. So let’s read this in our hearing.
I suggest to you this morning that YOU are the treasure hidden in the field of the world and YOU are the pearl of great price that Jesus went and searched for and paid for with all He had in giving His whole life in order to buy YOU out of the slave market of sin – That’s Why You’re Worthy! God values you and sees you as of ultimate worth and value because His nature is agape love – it’s self –giving, seeking, and searching of that which is loved and that’s every one of YOU. With that in mind, let’s look at:
I. WHAT MAKES YOU WORTHY Matthew 13:1-43
Understanding the context will make all the difference in your seeing yourself as worthy. Matthew 13 consist of 7 parables and 2 explanations. The first one is the Parable of the Sower and sets the stage as it deals with how a person hears the Word of God. Of course, the disciples didn’t comprehend the meaning so Jesus explained it. He then goes on to tell the Parable of the Tares, Mustard Seed and Yeast. Now all of these have to do with Christ’s development, gathering and growth of the kingdom of heaven. And again, the disciples don’t get the meaning so they ask Him in verse 36 to explain the Parable of the Tares.
Jesus explains that He’s the sower, the field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom and the tares are the sons of the evil one, Satan. He’s the enemy who sowed the tares. Then we come to the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of great price. These are usually understood to mean: as we happen to find this treasure or pearl which we assume is Christ then we must be willing to sell all and buy it so we have eternal life in Christ. Of course, the truth is we should be willing to give up all for Christ, however this interpretation seems to miss the real emphasis of the passage.
Remember the emphasis of all these parables has to do with Jesus gathering, developing and growing the sons of the kingdom into a body who makes up the kingdom of heaven. If we follow the explanation of the other parables, we must understand that the individual who finds the treasure and the pearl is Christ, not us. The treasure and the pearl don’t refer to Christ, but instead refers to the sons of the kingdom whom Christ Himself purchases. The parables speak to God’s pursuit or acquisition of us. So “What Makes You Worthy” is Jesus values you as a priceless treasure, a precious pearl of great price for which He gave everything to acquire you and me. Do you see why you’re worthy? Well, if not let’s look a little further and see if the Holy Spirit can convince you of your worth and value. Secondly, let’s look at:
II. WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS
This is what God’s Word says about how He made you. From the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:31 we’re given an account of the creation of the world and its inhabitants. Upon completion of God’s work of creation we’re told that, “God saw all that He had made and behold it was very good.” God’s assessment of His creation work also included humanity, represented by Adam and Eve. And again He said, “it was very good.”
As we move to the middle of the Bible we read in Psalm 139:14 that we’re “fearfully and wonderfully made.” This again is in the context of God’s creative work and the fact that the Psalmists praises God, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:13-14). Also in Psalm 8:3-4, King David is basically saying, “God, the value you place on me – well, it’s almost too good to be true.” Most translators say the best translation is not heavenly beings or angels, but god. God’s Word says He’s made us very good, of great value and worth in His sight. But thirdly, what about:
III. WHAT THE WORLD SAYS
The world system, with Satan as its leader sees all of humanity as trash to be thrown out. Unfortunately, not only have non-believers bought into the world’s evaluation of themselves, but so have many believers. You’ve believed the lie. You’ve accepted the world’s price tag that you’re unworthy, you’re of no value. The world’s price tag is worthless and many believers have accepted it. It has been learned that a person’s value is determined by how well he or she performs. It may have been learned from parents or siblings; perhaps in school, at church, in the family or in society. Yet, the performance was never quite good enough, so feelings of worthlessness are accepted as a fact of life.
Now who knows the truth? Does the world, your feelings or God know the truth? And the truth is this: Christ, having found you as a hidden treasure and pearl of great price out in the field of the world – whom the world saw as a worthless piece of 10-cent kid’s jewelry – sold all He had, gave up all that was His, for YOU! That’s “Why You’re Worthy” according to God. So, finally:
IV. WORTH ACCORDING TO GOD
God knew the truth. More accurately, He decided the truth. Acts 20:28b states that God purchased you with His own blood, ”which he bought with his own blood.” Philippians 2:6-8 explains how in fact Christ, God’s Son, did give up ALL that He was and had to come to earth for you and me. And Galatians 2:20b goes on to indicate that Jesus “delivered himself up for” YOU. Paul puts it in the singular as for one person “me!” No longer are you lost as a tiny part of everybody.
Christ did this all because He knew the truth. He decided the truth. He valued you above all He had, even above LIFE itself. He decided that you were a treasure, a pearl of great price. The question is, how is it that you became a treasure or pearl? Can you make yourself that? Of course not! You’re a treasure and a pearl because God chose to place value and worth on you apart from anything you do. God in His Sovereignty decided that you’re a hidden treasure, a pearl of great price, a person of worth and value.
Now if God’s given all that He was and had, gave the very life of Jesus His Son to purchase you. Then He’s saying you’re worth Jesus to Him. And if God says you’re a special treasure, a pearl worth Jesus to Him, what would you say about yourself? Folk, it has nothing to do with how well or how poorly you have performed or your outward appearance. It’s simply that God has placed that value on you. The key to your spiritual growth and maturity is your acceptance of “What You’re Worth.” It’s a fact you must receive by faith. It’s not a question of IF you can receive it, but WILL you receive it? Will you receive the truth that God says you’re of great worth and value to Him? Will you receive His value and worth of you, His love and acceptance of you apart from anything you can do for Him and in spite of everything you’ve done against Him? Will you choose to believe it in spite of your circumstances and in spite of your emotions?
