Costly Joy 欢欢喜喜
Dexu Xia
Costly Joy
When a man found it, he . . . went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matthew 13:44
At the sound of the digital melody, all six of us sprang into action. Some slipped shoes on, others simply bolted for the door barefoot. Within seconds we were all sprinting down the driveway chasing the ice cream truck. It was the first warm day of summer, and there was no better way to celebrate than with a cold, sweet treat! There are things we do simply because of the joy it brings us, not out of discipline or obligation.
In the pair of parables found in Matthew 13:44–46, the emphasis is selling everything to gain something else. We might think the stories are about sacrifice. But that’s not the point. In fact, the first story declares it was “joy” that led the man to sell everything and buy the field. Joy drives change—not guilt or duty.
Jesus isn’t one segment of our lives; His claims on us are total. Both men in the stories “sold all” (v. 44). But here’s the best part: the result of this selling of everything is actually gain. We may not have guessed that. Isn’t life in Christ about taking up your cross? Yes. It is. But when we die, we live; when we lose our life, we find it. When we “sell all,” we gain the greatest treasure: Jesus! Joy is the reason; surrender is the response. The treasure of knowing Jesus is the reward.
How have you experienced joy in your relationship with Jesus? What is He inviting you to surrender to Him?
Dear Jesus, open my eyes to see the treasure that You are! Direct my heart to You as the source of true and unfailing joy, and let me ever be fixed on You. Grant me the grace to surrender all to You.
欢欢喜喜
人遇见了就⋯⋯欢欢喜喜地去变卖一切所有的，买这块地。—马太福音13章44节
听见街上传来的音乐声，我们六个人立即行动。有人穿上鞋子，有人打着赤脚就夺门而出。顷刻之间，我们全都冲出家门，奋力去追逐雪糕车。那是炎炎夏日的第一天，能吃着冰凉沁心的甜点迎接夏天，实在是让人感到开心！有些时候，我们之所以去做某些事，纯粹是因为这些事会带给我们快乐，而非因着规定或义务。
马太福音13章44-46节讲到两个比喻，强调变卖一切以获得某些事物。我们也许会以为这里讲的是牺牲，但其实第一个比喻就清楚指出，那人是“欢欢喜喜”地卖掉一切去购买田地。喜乐所带来的改变，绝非亏欠或责任感所能达到的。
耶稣并不只是我们生命的一部分，祂要成为我们整个生命的中心，祂要我们完全献上。在这两个比喻中都提到，那人“变卖一切所有的”（44节）。而最美妙的是，卖掉一切的结果不是损失而是收获。这或许是我们未曾想到的。基督徒的生命不就是要背起自己的十字架吗？是的，确实如此。然而，我们若死了，却反倒活了；我们若失丧生命，却反倒得着生命。当我们“变卖一切所有的”，便能获得最大的宝藏，也就是耶稣！喜乐的心驱使我们以顺服回应，而认识耶稣这个至宝是我们最大的回报！
耶稣，求祢让我能看见祢就是至宝！引领我的心转向祢，
因祢是喜乐源头。请祢赐我恩典，让我能全然降服于祢。
在与耶稣的关系中，你曾感受到怎样的喜乐？
你需要在哪些事上顺服耶稣呢？