The Bible tells us about a man who sold everything he owned to buy a field. What does this really mean?
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. One day, a man discovered the treasure. Realizing how precious and valuable it was, he joyfully went away, sold everything he owned, and bought the field.
“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.” (Matthew 13:44, NKJV)
Does this mean that we must also sell all our possessions to enter the kingdom of heaven?
This parable is not simply telling us to sell our property. It teaches us how precious and valuable the kingdom of heaven is, and what a person who understands its value is willing to give up.
If we truly understand the value of the kingdom of heaven, we should also be willing to let go of things we once considered important. These include not only worldly desires but also the thoughts, habits, and values we have held on to for many years.
This begins with replacing our old standards for living with the Word of God.
Throughout our lives, we learn many things from our parents and the people around us. We also develop our own standards of right and wrong based on our personal experiences. However, not everything we have learned agrees with the Word of God.
For example, some people become afraid when they hear that a certain date or direction will bring bad luck. Others believe that having a bad dream means something terrible will happen. But the Bible does not teach that our lives are controlled by good or bad luck, or by fortune-telling. Instead, it teaches us to trust God and live according to His Word.
Even common sayings and traditional teachings may contain values that are different from God’s Word.
When someone hurts us, we may think that we should hurt them in return. However, Jesus taught us not to seek personal revenge. Instead, He told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:38–44).
Some people also believe that as long as the result is good, it does not matter how we achieve it. But God looks not only at the results of our actions but also at the way we act and the intentions of our hearts. No matter how much we might gain, we must not lie or deceive others.
We may also place too much trust in our own experiences. We say things like, “I have lived long enough to know how things work,” or “That is just how the world works.” But just because we have lived a certain way for many years does not mean that it is right.
The standard we should follow is not what people say, the traditions of the world, or even our own experiences. Our standard must be the Word of God.
Therefore, believing in Jesus is not simply about changing our religion. It means changing the way we think and the way we live.
In the past, we may have held on to hatred toward those who hurt us, but now we must learn to forgive. If we used to lie for our own benefit, we must now become honest. If we only cared about our own interests, we must now also consider the well-being of others.
This is what it means to put off our old self and put on the new self. Just as the man who found the treasure willingly sold everything he owned, we must be willing to let go of our own thoughts, stubbornness, and wrong values that we have placed above God’s Word.
When we make God’s Word the new standard for our lives, our hearts also begin to become like good soil. As we let go of thoughts and habits that do not agree with His Word and begin to obey Him, the seed of His Word can grow and bear beautiful fruit in our lives.
When making important decisions, what standard do I follow? Is it what other people say? Is it my own experience? Or is it the Word of God?
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV)
To gain the treasure of the kingdom of heaven, perhaps the first thing we need to let go of is not our money or possessions, but our own thoughts and judgments that we have believed to be more correct than God’s Word.
From today onward, let us trust God’s Word more than our own thoughts and experiences, and live in obedience to His Word.
What do I need to let go of?
