I first heard this parable from Sam Cantata, a missionary speaker at a student conference years ago. It is taken from the 13th chapter of Matthew. It describes a pearl buyer who has searched the world over for the perfect pearl. When he found it, with great excitement he inquires of the owner: “I WANT THIS PEARL! How much is it?” “Well, “ the seller says, “It’s very expensive.” “But how much?” He asked. “Well a very large amount.” “Do you think I could buy it?” “Oh, of course, everyone can buy it.” “But ,didn’t you say it was very expensive?” “Yes.” “Well, how much is it?” “Everything you have,” says the seller. “I’ve up my mind, I’ll buy it, he says.” “Well, what do you have?” He wants to know, “Let’s write it down.” “Well, I have ten thousand dollars in the bank.” “Good, $10,000. What else?”
“That’s all, that’s all I have.”
“Nothing more?” the seller says.
“Well, I have a few dollars in my pocket.”
“How much?”
He starts digging, “Well, let’s see, I have $40 dollars.”
“That’s fine. What else do you have?”
“Well, nothing. That’s all.”
“Where do you live?”
“In my house, he replies.”
“One house” and he writes it down.”
“You mean I have to live in my camper, the buyer exclaims,”
“Oh, you have a camper too, then.” ”That, too. What else?”
“I’ll have to sleep in my car.”
“You have a car?”
“Two of them.”
“Both become mine, both cars. What else?”
“Well, you already have my money, my house, my camper, my cars. What more do you want?”
“Are you alone in this world.”
“No, I have a wife and three children.”
“Oh, yes, your wife and children, too. What else.
I have nothing left! I am left alone now.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. You yourself too. Everything becomes mine — wife, children, house, money, cars, and you too.”
Now listen — I will allow you to use all these things for the time being. But don’t forget that they are mine, just as you are. Whenever I need any of these you must give them to me because now I am the owner.”
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matt. 13:45, 46
I Corinthians 6:19b-20 “You are not your own,; you have been bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
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