By Pastor John Mateos Ong
Worth it is when you get equal or more than what you paid for. It has a formula - when the value of something is higher or greater than the cost. The value of something has usability and the amount of pleasure it gives you. For example, the cost of a movie ticket nowadays is roughly between 300-500 pesos. If you watch a movie for 4 hours and every minute of it was intense and action packed, you get out of the movie house saying it was worth the price you paid for the movie. But if you buy something and then realize later on that it does not fit you, then it was not worth it at all. The perceived value of a product is what you see. The product that you get is the same thing you see. The opposite is a product’s real value. It is the object’s absolute value.
One time, Jesus visited the house of Mary and Martha. And the two women became busy with different things. Martha was busy in the kitchen while Mary entertained them and sat at Jesus’ feet. Luke 10 tells this story. Verse 41-42 says, “But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” What Jesus is saying is that Martha has seen the percieved value of Jesus while Mary has seen His real value.
Matthew 13:10-12 says, “His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Jesus spoke in parables because the children of God have been blessed to understand it. Who wants to have more and be in abundance? Then you have to read and understand the parables of Jesus Christ.
There is a process. Matt. 13:31-32 says “Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” If you can only understand how big the kingdom of God is, you will not take it for granted. Right now, you are ignoring it because it is as small as a mustard seed. The world does not care if you go to church and will even persecute those in the right. What people see is their perceived value. But if you see the real value of the kingdom of God, you will know that it is worth it. Many people ignore the kingdom because they do not see the future. They put off for next week what they can do today. But one day, you will see its real value and you will say that it is worth it.
There is a system. Mark 13:33-35 says, “Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.” The kingdom of God has a system. When it spreads, you do not need a lot right now but given the process, there is a system to make it spread to every part. Jesus fed 5000 at one time, but He did not disciple all of them. He spent time with only 12. You do not need a lot of yeast.
2 ways it spreads:
It spreads in you. Luke 17:21 says, “The Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Little by little, you will give up the things that are not of God.
It spreads externally. Matthew 24:14 says, “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” The day you receive Jesus is the day you start reaching out to others. The kingdom of God works all through you.
These two happen simultaneously. You do not wait for one thing or the other.
There is a cost. Matt. 13:44 says, ““The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” The kingdom of God will cost you all you have. If you are not willing to pay the cost now, you are going to have no choice but to suffer the consequences later. You have to deny yourself and take up His cross. Are you willing to take up your cross? Most of the time the cross you have to bear is uncomfortable for we all have different crosses to bear. Mark 8:34 says, “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Do not get scammed by the world. Do not fall for the perceived value of things.
1 Cor. 10:23 says, “All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.” Give your time to things of value. Choose to be educated rather than be entertained. It adds real value to you.
Matthew 13:45-46 ““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.” There is a cost. But for you to pay that cost, you need to see the real value. But to see the real value, you have to seek it.
There is an end. Matt. 13:24-27 says, “Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ Right now, you are a good seed planted among weeds. You might be wondering why God is not doing anything about your situation. Jesus said in Matt. 13:28-30, “An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” There will be an end to this season. Right now, some weeds look like wheat, just like Christians who are still being pruned to be like Jesus. There are a lot of weeds waiting outside for farmers to uproot them. But there is an end. You think this is a season of waiting. No. Now is the season of planting. While you are waiting, you are not doing anything.
2 Cor. 3:9-10 says “If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.” Farrah Gray once said, “Make it happen now, not tomorrow. Tomorrow is a loser’s excuse.” If something has real value to you, you will pay the cost now. Tomorrow might never come.
If we believe that the kingdom of God is in a process of advancement that is systematically spreading in us and to the ends of the world, then we must be prepared to pay the cost even if it cost us everything because we know that the end is coming and when that happens, it will be worth it.