Disruptive Faith

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 31, 2017

By Tripp Prince

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46 (NRSV)

To speak of God’s Kingdom is to speak of the rule and reign of God, of his goodness and justice extending over the whole of creation. God’s Kingdom brings life where there is death, peace where there is violence, and order where there is chaos. This is truly good news, and if this news is true, it is meant to radically disrupt the pursuits and desires of our lives.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure, like a pearl of great value. The question that lies before each of us, then, is how should we respond? In light of the priceless value of God’s Kingdom, are we living as men and women who acknowledge its value and give ourselves fully to the pursuit of it?

This parable invites us to live lives of whole-hearted pursuit. The man who finds the buried treasure is willing to have his entire life disrupted. He “sells all that he has” in order to obtain the greatest treasure. Have you allowed yourself to be content with lesser treasures? When we give lesser things the place of highest value we set ourselves up for disappointment. We ask of our jobs, relationships, and recreational pursuits a level of fulfillment that they simply cannot give. And so when we encounter God’s Kingdom and see its infinite value, we must be willing to reorder our lives as a result.

The pursuit of God’s Kingdom is highly disruptive to those who have given themselves fully to lesser loves. Pursuing this kingdom and participating in it requires of us faithful persistence. It asks us to let go of the things that keep us bound to lesser kingdoms. Yet as painful as this may be, our self-denial is never an end in and of itself but is a means by which we gain entry into life itself. It is the way that we continually open our lives to the reforming and renewing work of the Holy Spirit.

The disruption of God’s Kingdom in your life is a step towards becoming truly human. It is entry into the life you were made to live. It is a life fully oriented to God and finding your hope and peace in him. May you and I have the courage to allow the Lord to disrupt our lives afresh!

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