The kingdom of God is to be Taken hold of Advanced Treasured Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The parallel account in Luke omits "and his righteousness" and adds an assurance: "...seek his kingdom, and all these things shall be yours as well. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:31-32). The kingdom of God is the treasure. The kingdom of God is of higher value than everything else. We are to seek God's kingdom as our most valuable possession. Even if it costs you everything else, the kingdom of God is worth it. The kingdom of God is a matter of priority - a matter of heart. The value of God's kingdom was greater than everything else he had. The treasure that is God's kingdom has inspired countless saints for two millennia. The kingdom of God inspired people like Jim Elliott, One of the five who gave their lives to reach the Auca Indians in January 1956. When he was warned that he might die trying to bring the kingdom of God to this unreached tribe, he wrote in his journal, "I would gladly give my life for these people." And... "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliott William Carrey was an English missionary to India who was a skilled linguist, writer and printer. He translated portions of the Bible in different languages. Eric Liddell the Olympic runner from the1980s film Chariots of Fire. After school, and his time as an Olympic athlete, he returned to China as a missionary in 1925. In 1941 British nationals were encouraged to leave China by the British government because of the coming Japanese invasion. Eric sent his wife and children home to Canada, but Eric remained to work in a hospital with his brother. In 1943 he was put in a prison camp by the Japanese and continued to teach children and preach the Bible in the prison camp. He was given the opportunity to leave the prison camp, but turned it down so that a pregnant woman could be released and he could remain there to be a father and teacher to the children in the camp The kingdom of God is the treasure. The kingdom of God is of greater value than anything else. Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Two ways to interpret this parable, the first is that it has the same meaning as the treasure in the field. But in this one, The kingdom of heaven is the merchant. The merchant gives everything to obtain the pearl. The man who gave up everything to obtain the pearl may be Jesus Christ who gave his life to pay the debt of sin for the whole world. Within the world of sinners, there would be some who would believe in him - the treasure and pearl. In that case, this is similar to the parables in Luke of the woman who lost a coin and would not rest until she found it. It's like the parable of the shepherd with one hundred sheep, but left 99 to find one lost sheep. The lessons of these parables: The kingdom of God is a treasure more valuable than anything else. The kingdom of God is about a savior who made the supreme sacrifice for his people.