Deep Thoughts to Think On
“The kingdom of heaven had no price tag on it: It is worth as much as you have. For Zacchaeus it was worth half of what he owned, because the other half that he had unjustly pocketed he promised to restore four-fold. For Peter and Andrew it was worth the nets and vessel they had left behind; for the widow it was worth two copper coins; for another it was worth a cup of cold water. So, as we said, the kingdom of heaven is worth as much as you have.”
~Gregory the Great (Forty Gospel Homilies, 5.2)
What is the Kingdom of Heaven worth to you? What do you think this quote means?
Great quote. This will be a hard post to respond to simply because there is a sense that boasting in our “giving up” something for the Kingdom of God should come from the mouths of others and not ours. Yet, I believe the exercise worthwhile, because when others read our responses, they can hold us accountable.
I’m hoping that giving up my career pursuits to become a pastor so early in life is an acceptable gesture of how much, on my best days, I’m willing to give up for the Kingdom of Heaven. I struggle with giving up the pleasantries of life, specifically cool new gadgets, because it’s easy to forget that how I spend my money is significant in the eyes of God. Just look at the examples in the quote above.