What is your Faith worth?

“I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure.” Psalms 119:162

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. “ Matthew 9:9

“"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it..” Matthew 13:44-46

This morning many people have come here to church for our worship service.  We call this service a worship service because its intent is to show the worth of God and Jesus (worth + ship).  However many have come for other reasons instead, or in addition to worship of God.  Before saying, “that isn’t me” allow God to search you to be sure.  Many people will come to church on Sundays for these reasons:

Appease a family member               To see family/friends

To hear the choir sing                      To catch up on community events

Hear the pastor’s sermon                To be entertained

This is in no way a complete list of side reasons to attend church.  What if we removed the pews, the HVAC system, and the bathrooms, would you still come?  Or if the only part of the service was the teaching of God’s Word?    Grant it that these other things are good and needed, except if they take the place of worship of God.  Do you love the message of the Gospel enough that it draws you? If not, ask God to give to you the faith of the Bible.

The faith we see demonstrated in the Bible shows extraordinary worth. Jesus told the disciples a parable of the man who found a treasure in a field, and sold everything to acquire it. The twelve disciples left their professions, families, and normal life to hear more about it.  Then after their leader was taken away, they took the message to people they didn’t know.  When they were threatened and beaten for preaching, it made them preach it loader.  The message was worth losing their life over.  What is your faith worth?  Is the Gospel worth all this?