The Case of the Hidden Pearl

A Filipino fisherman in western Palawan island has found possibly the world's biggest pearl, but he didn't know it. For 10 years, the 34-kilogram (75-pound) pearl was hidden in a bag under a bed. The fisherman's family would rub it with their hands before going out to sea in the belief it would bring them luck, said relative Aileen Amurao.

Amurao, who is also Puerto Princesa city's tourism officer, said Thursday that the man gave her the pearl last month for safekeeping because he was moving to a new place. The pearl was sitting on a bench in her home for weeks until she found time to check the internet, and she was shocked to learn that it could be the world's biggest at 2.2 feet (67 centimeters) long and 1 foot (30 centimeters) wide. The estimated value of the pearl is 100 million dollars.

This story reminded me of the story of the "pearl of great price". This story in Matthew 13:45-46 says that a merchant was seeking fine pearls and upon finding one, he sold all he had to go and buy it. I am struck by the differences between the two stories:

• The realization of value - the fisherman must have known that he had something of value because he hid it under the bed. But he really did not know the true value of what he had. The gospel is of unlimited value but many don't realize it.
• The response of what to do with the value - the fisherman rubbed the pearl for good luck. How many of us treat the gospel as just a good luck charm. No doubt the merchant of the gospels saw the pearl as a fantastic investment because he was an investor of pearls.
• The reaction upon finding the pearl is of high value is shock to the fisherman but obviously not shocking to the merchant who knew the value he had. I wonder how many people will be shocked to find that the gospel is "good news" to so many and it is just waiting for those who will embrace it.

The pearl of Matthew 13 is something that intrinsically people would regard as high value. Not much more needs to be said. Jesus says in Matthew 7:6 says not to cast pearls before swine. The idea is you shouldn't have to convince somebody of something that has intrinsic value. It is one of those things that is self-evident, unless of course we misunderstand or misapply it.