This past week for me was spent partying at the musical festival Lifest in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. While I could share many the experiences I had: chatting it up with an up&coming band Loftland (they gave me a free poster), jumping up on a table for a band to sign my Chuck Taylor, dancing the wind from my lungs at Family Force Five, or meeting some randomly awesome dance partners at a dance party, there is one thing I'd like to single out as most important.
Each morning I got up early to go and listen to a speaker named Tiffany Thompson give morning devotions. Her theme for the week was pearls, and how God blesses us when we are willing to sacrifice for Him. She told this story of a girl named Jenny (five or six years old) who wanted nothing more than to have her own pair of pearls just like her grandma's.
She worked hard to buy a cheap pair from the dollar store, earning quarter after quarter until she'd finally reached her goal. She ripped open the package with enthusiasm upon receiving it and threw the pearls around her neck, admiring her beautiful appearance. That evening her father put her to bed, telling her he loved her. After she repeated the words he asked her a question: "Jenny, will you give me your pearls?".
With a look of utter shock on her face she replied, "No! These are MY pearls Daddy! I worked for them! They are MINE. You can have my teddy bear instead."
He simply shook his head saying, "I don't want your teddy bear. That's alright Jenny, good night." The next evening, the sequence repeated itself, this time Jenny offered her Barbie doll. Her father still declined and left the room. This repeated itself night after night until one evening Jenny's dad entered the room to find her balling. He quickly ran up to her and asked, "Jenny! What's wrong?"
With a look of utter despair little Jenny held up her trembling hand in a fist. "I love my pearls Daddy," she cried, "but I love you more!" With that, she dropped her precious string of pearls into his waiting hand.
Jenny's father smiled at this, and reached into his jacket, pulling out a long velvet box... and inside were Grandma's pearls.
When I heard the ending of this story I nearly began to cry, tears welling up in my already moist eyes. For two reasons, this story impacted me. First of all I realized that this is what I've been trying to do for the last three years of my life. My goal has been to give God everything: my most precious pearls. In return for my sacrifices, the Lord has been blessing me with opportunities, gifts, prayer, support, and so much more. My life is an example of His blessings.
Secondly, I reacted with sadness because I realized that this is how most Christians live their lives. Even those who know God personally, who seek Him in prayer, reading their bible, and worship daily.... they still refuse to give God their pearls. They may give Him other things - time, money, advice to new believers. But each of have those few things that we cling to with desperation; as if we are afraid that we can't ever have better. It could be a job, a relationship, a home, an image. It is different for each of us, but those things, the ones we cling most tightly to.. those are the ones He desires most from us. And if we are willing to give them freely to Him, He WILL bless us more abundantly than we can imagine.
So I have found a new freedom in Christ, and a new trust in the Lord's promises. I don't care what logical decisions I should be making according to the world's standards. I have a God who is asking me for my most prized possessions, and I will give them freely. I am joyful because I know that I will be blessed for my sacrifice, and because I already have the greatest confidence I need: that Christ died for me and gave me life eternal. In comparison to that, any sacrifice seems small.
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