SUNDAY SERMONS

 

How Much is It Worth?

Do you visit garage sales? Ever find any true bargains? Recently we learned the incredible story of a California family that claims their deceased father paid $5 for a box of junk and ended up finding a Coca-Cola stock certificate from 1917 that today could be worth $130 million! Each weekend, at tens of thousands of garage across the country, buyers spend a few dollars to scoop up all kinds of used items like VCRs, DVDs, books, baby clothes, furniture, and every other used knick knack you can imagine. 

In 2010 at a Las Vegas garage sale, a man paid $10 for what turned out to be a $2 million Andy Warhol original sketch. 

Just a few weeks ago an Ohio man paid $14 at a thrift store for what turned out to be an original Picasso print that could be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

 

But the idea that someone could have paid $5 for a piece of paper which is now worth $130 million is truly mind blowing. 

In 2008, a California man named Tony Marohn bought a box of documents at a neighborhood garage sale for $5. When he got home, Marohn examined his take and noticed that one of the documents was a 1917 stock certificate for 1,625 shares of the Palmer Union Oil Company. With a little investigating, Marohn discovered that Palmer Union Oil merged with a company and that company then merged again with Coke and, according to the lawsuit, his twice-merged shares would today entitle him to 1.8 million shares worth an estimated $130 million based on today's closing price of $72.02! That many shares would make Mr. Marohn's heirs the largest non-institutional shareholders of Coca-Cola and the richest garage sale hunters in history.

 Matthew 13:44-46 "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. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.  

I.                  Perceived Value Determined

 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.

 If you went out this week to buy a brand new car would you get a good deal? Let’s say you went in ready to do battle with the salesman. You have your army boots on and your flak jacket! You are ready for war! You pick out the car you want and you go into that little sales cubical to hammer out a deal. The salesman throws you an opening price… You know he’s starting high! You come back with a price that you know is ridiculously low. He says “If I can get the car for you at that price will you buy it today?” You say “yes” because you know they won’t take that price. The salesman comes back and tells you he is battling the manager to get your price but the manager will only come down to a number lower than the start but higher than your number. After an hour and a half, you agree on a number and you buy the car. As you leave the dealership you feel like you got a great deal! … but did you? 

 

a.   Value is based on perception.

 

Two weeks later, you run into a friend that also just bought a car … the same model color features … everything the same car. … but He paid $1000 less … did you get a good deal?

 

 Which is worth more … a beautiful home on ten acres of land or an old beat up shack on one acre of land? Why?

 

What if the beat up shack is sitting on untapped oil rich land and the beautiful home is riddled with termites?

 

b.   Value is based on perception!

 

 WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

c.    What would you give for a guaranteed ticket to Heaven?

d.   What are you currently giving to be able to make that trip?

e.   If we believe Heaven to be a Treasure God says … 

Isaiah 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

 Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

Luke 12:33-34 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

II.                               Perceived Value Redeemed

Two friends were talking about the approaching birthday of one of the men’s wives. John asked Bill, “What are you getting June for her birthday?” Bill replied, “I’m getting her a diamond ring!” Surprised John said, “I thought she wanted one of those sporty four wheel drive Jeeps?” Bill said, “Yes she did but I couldn’t find a fake Jeep!”

Value is revealed when you redeem the item!!

Matt 13:45-46 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.  

 

a.   Value is determined in use.

Do you remember the fairytale of King Midas? King Midas loved gold. He loved gold almost as much as he loved his beautiful daughter. He was given the ability that anything he touched would turn to gold. This was great he thought. He would touch an item and it would turn into pure gold. He touched his dinner plate and it turn to gold. He touched his curtains in his palace and they turned to gold. It was great until one day his daughter tripped and fell into him and was turned to gold.

b.   If value is determined in use …

c.    what is the value of being part of God’s Kingdom?

d.   There is a biblical illustration demonstrating value …

Mark 14:3-9 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  [4] Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? [5] It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.  [6] "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [7] The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. [8] She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. [9] I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." 

e.   The disciples were aghast! How could this woman waste such valuable perfume. 

f.     They could have taken it to the market and gotten money to do the work of the kingdom.

g.   They chastised the woman for being so wasteful.

h.   Jesus turned and chastised the disciple because the woman was using what she had to worship Jesus.

i.      The disciples saw it as potential income … Jesus saw it as great worship!

j.      What was it’s value?

k.   It is in the use of something that it’s value is demonstrated.

 

III. Perceived Value Revealed

Matt 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.

a. The difference between a diamond and a lump of coal is simply the amount of pressure it has endured during it’s lifetime.

How valuable is salt? 40 million tons are required each year to fill our needs. Homer called it divine. Plato called it a "substance dear to the gods." Shakespeare mentioned salt 17 times in his plays.

Perhaps Leonardo da Vinci wanted to send a subtle message about purity lost when he painted "The last Supper." In that painting an overturned salt container is conspicuously placed before Judas. In ancient Greece a far-flung trade involving the exchange of salt for slaves gave rise to the expression, "...not worth his salt." Special salt rations were given to Roman soldiers and known as "Solarium Argentums" the forerunner of the English word "salary." Thousands of Napoleon’s troops died during his retreat from Moscow because their wounds would not heal--their bodies lacked salt necessary for healing.

Value is Perceived!

So if the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, why doesn’t everybody do everything they can to be a part of it? 

I think it’s because value is often in the eye of the beholder. What has value and what doesn’t is really up to personal interpretation. What some people think are valuable have no value at all to others.

b.   We serve our Lord because we see the value of His Kingdom.

c.    What we as Christian consider of most value the world thinks of as foolishness.

On the morning of September 11, Jeannie Braca switched on the television to check the weather report, only to hear that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. Jeannie’s husband, Al, worked as a corporate bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. His office was on the 105th floor of Tower One. Al had survived the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and had even helped a woman with asthma escape from the building. Jeannie knew that Al would do the same thing this time, “I knew he would stop to help and minister to people,” she said, “but I never thought for a minute that he wouldn’t be coming home!” A week later, like so many others who were in that building, Al’s body was found in the rubble. Al’s wife, Jeannie, and his son Christopher were devastated! Then the reports began to trickle in from friends and acquaintances. Some people on the 105th floor had made a last call or sent a final e-mail to loved ones saying that a man was leading people in prayer. A few referred to Al by name. Al’s family learned that Al had indeed been ministering to people during the attack! When Al realized that they were all trapped in the building and would not be able to escape, Al shared the gospel with a group of 50 co-workers and led them in prayer.

This news came as no surprise to Al’s wife, Jeannie. For years, she and Al had been praying for the salvation of these men and women. According to Jeannie, Al hated his job and couldn’t stand the environment. It was a world so out of touch with his Christian values, but he wouldn’t quit. Al was convinced that God wanted him to stay there, to be a light in the darkness, and although Al would not have put it this way, to be a hero! Al was not ashamed of Christ and Christ’s words…and he paid the price of

taking up his cross daily. Al shared his faith with his co-workers….many of whom sarcastically nicknamed him “The Rev.” And on that fateful day…on September 11, in the midst of the chaos, Al’s co-workers looked to him—-and he accepted the challenge.

THE VALUE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS REVEALED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT CALL US TO STAND FOR CHRIST!

IV. Perceived Value Experienced

 

Matthew 13:44-46 "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. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 

a. We fail to live daily in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

1 Cor. 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 

When DAVE THOMAS died in early 2002, he left behind more than just thousands of Wendy’s restaurants. He also left a legacy of being a practical, hard-working man who was respected for his down-to-earth values. Among the pieces of good advice that have outlived the smiling entrepreneur is his view of what Christians should be doing with their lives. Thomas, who as a youngster was influenced for Christ by his grandmother, said that believers should be "roll-up-your-shirt sleeves" Christians. In his book Well Done, Thomas said, "Roll-up-your-shirtsleeves Christians see Christianity as faith and action. They still make the time to talk with God through prayer, study Scripture with devotion, be super-active in their church and take their ministry to others to spread the Good Word." He went onto say they are

"anonymous people who are doing good for Christ may be doing even more good than all the well-known Christians in the world." That statement has more meat in it than a Wendy’s triple burger. Thomas knew about hard work in the restaurant business; and he knew it is vital in the spiritual world also.

 

Let’s Roll-up-our-shirt sleeves, there is plenty to do.

Rev. 2:3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

The call went out! Dad was dying. He had been sick for the last few years and now he was in the hospital. Hospice had been called in and they notified family to get to the hospital. Dad would still have moments in which he would weakly talk to family. As the moment seemed to be getting close he called each member to his side. My loving wife, come here he called. She came by his side. He grasped her hand and said “I love you … I will see you soon!” He called his daughter to his side. “I love you and I will see you soon.” He called his youngest son to his side and said “Son, I love  you and will see you soon.” Then he called his oldest son to his side. He said, “Son, I love you…. Good bye” His son stepped back and asked, “Father you told everyone you would see them soon … all except me … why?” Father said “Son you have not received Christ as your Savior… The rest of our family have but not you. I will see them on the other side of this life but Son you will not be there. I’m so sorry!” The son asked his father to try to hold on … that he would be right back and rushed out of the room. He went to a nearby church and caught the pastor who was there working in his office. The young man exclaimed, “I need to receive Christ!” After a brief explanation the young man prayed to receive Christ! Back to the hospital he took his father’s hand and exclaimed “now you will see me soon Father!”

Ephes. 4:15 Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.