• The gold mine | God's Love for us
• The pearl | We are owned by God
• Housebuilding | Time and trials

We may believe that God is the creator of all, and that we owe everything to Him. But do we really think about what that means? Here is a story what you may have heard as a sermon illustration:

"I want this pearl. How much is it?"
"Well," the seller says, "it is expensive."
"But how much?" we ask.
"Well, a very large amount."
"Do you think I could buy it?"
"Oh, of course, everyone can buy it."
"But, didn't you say it was very expensive?"
"Yes."
"Well, how much is it?"
"Everything you have."
We make up our minds. "All right, I'll buy it," we say.
"Well, what do you have?" he wants to know.
"Let's write it down."
"Well, I have ten thousand dollars in the bank."
"Good. Ten thousand dollars. What else?"
"That's all. That's all I have."
"Nothing more?"
"Well, I have a few dollars here in my pocket."
"How much?"
We start digging. "Well, let's see - thirty, forty, sixty,
eighty, a hundred, a hundred twenty dollars."
"That's fine. What else do you have?"
"Well, nothing. That's all."
"Where do you live?" He's still probing.
"In my house. Yes, I have a house."
"The house, too, then." He writes that down.
"You mean I have to live in my camper?"
"You have a camper? That, too. What else?"
"I'll have to sleep in my car!"
"You have a car?"
"Two of them."
"Both of them become mine. Both cars. What else?"
"Well, you already have my money, my house, my camper, 
my cars. What more do you want?"
"Are you alone in this world?"
"No, I have a wife and two children.."
"Oh, yes, your wife and children, too. What else?"
"I have nothing left! I am left alone now."
Suddenly the seller exclaimes, "Oh, I almost forgot!
Yourself, too! Everything becomes mine - wife, children,
house, money, cars, - and you, too."
   Then he goes on. "Now listen. I will allow you to use all
these things for the time being. But don't forget that they are
mine, just as you are. And whenever I need any of them, you
must give them up, because now I am the owner."

It not only costs all that we have. The price includes all that we are.
In return, God promises to fulfill the deepest longings of our soul.
He promises to satisfy us with Himself.

Source: Max Anders | 30 Days to understand the Christian Life