There are two kinds of people in this world.
The first kind love to go window shopping. There is no cost involved in the process. It is aimless wandering. The time spent is utilized just to enjoy the feel of things.
There is no serious effort to pay the price and get something in return.
The second group of people are few in number. But they are represented by the man Jesus talked about in one of his parables. “Again, the kingdom of God 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.” *
This merchant was serious in his pursuit. He knew what he was looking for.
It is good to belong to the category of people the merchant represents. He was passionate about his search. He found one pearl of great value since he was earnest in his search for it.
How intense is your search? It cannot be intense until you are clear about what you want in life. It cannot be intense unless you know what is that gives real meaning and lasting value in life.
Once the focus is clear, then there is no stopping until the goal is reached. There are no second thoughts about sacrifice. Everything else will be given up for this one thing. People who have this kind of focus are single-eyed in their aim. They allow nothing else to come between them and their goal.
Such a man was Paul whose single aim in life was to know Christ. He wrote from a Roman prison, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”*
The beauty of a pearl makes it desirable. It is easy for a passer-by to miss it when he sees one especially when he or she is too busy with the lesser entertainments of life.
Yes, life is a mad rush today. It is like a marketplace where sellers of all kinds of wares and merchandise are crying out for your attention. If you are not sure what you are looking for and intensely focused on getting it, you can easily miss it in the cacophony of sounds of the crowding streets brightly lit up in attractive colours at night.
Let me now enumerate the thoughts.
One, you need to intensely search for that one thing valuable in life.
Two, you have to be able to recognize that something valuable when you see it.
Three, you should be willing to sacrifice everything else to get that one pearl of great value.
Therefore the key to success in life is to know what you are really looking for and your willingness to sacrifice everything else to get it.
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*Matthew 13:45, 46, Philippians 3:8 Bible NIV 1984
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