Therein lies fullness, completeness, ultimate purpose, perfection, abundance, and every other positive superlative one can think of–in a word, life, even eternal, abundant life. The King is in His Kingdom–and this limitless life is to know the King. Jn.17:3.

I believe the value of the kingdom lies in its abliity to transend our petty arguments and self-seeking motives. It can really bring people together from many walks of life. I think it really calls for us to give up and let God’s dream for the world take center stage.

It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, to live the life of the Kingdom, in His Presence and power, to follow Jesus–not just as an example to admire from afar, but an example to pursue–His character and power.

What makes the kingdom and kingdom vision so valuable? It transforms the world and it transforms our perception of the world. We unite with a vision that is enduring and transcendent – not limited to our local finite existence. Isn’t it the power of the kingdom vision that impels many who do not hold to orthodox Christianity to retain an identity as “Christian”?

Scot, penetrating question!
The kingdom invites us into life that is personally and communally/societally the way it’s supposed to be. Only in the kingdom is human life truly and fully experienced…in its current now/not yet expressions.
Sadly, many, many USAmerican evangelicals have lowered their vision from the pearl to the ‘American dream.’

Kingdom preaching expands our vision miles beyond the task-oriented here-and-now messages about how to fix our finances, our kids, our marriages and our churches. It infuses the here-and-now with eternity.

The kingdom is simply the only thing that is going to last. And it’s worth giving up, or at least being willing to give up, many things that are inherently good, to seek the greatness of the kingdom. That may be the hardest part of the parable.

I agree with John Frye. I believe that while wisdom is understanding life the way God intended it to be, the Kingdom is the manifestation of life the way God intended it to be.
To live life outside of the Creator’s intention for life is really no life at all. The value of the Kingdom surpasses and even transcends anything that might be considered valuable of this temporal age.

I can’t answer this any better than John Frye just did. A nice explanation.
(By the way, I plan to work through parts of STORIES WITH INTENT during July. I look forward to it.)

Scot: I agree…we “need to focus more on the supreme worth of the kingdom vision of Jesus.”
Reminds me of the words of Dallas Willard:
“The real question is, How do you do ?evangelism-discipleship?? My short answer: You ravish people with the blessings of the Kingdom. You make them hungry for it. That?s why words are so important ? we must be wordsmiths. You use words to ravish people with the beauty of the kingdom. It?s the beauty of the kingdom that Jesus said was causing people to climb over each other just to get in. People become excited like the pearl-purchaser ? they will give everything to get in.”
But I was also wondering…are you familiar with the suggestion (I thought it was George Ladd’s, but can’t verify that) that the pearl represents us, the ones who are “of great value” to God, and the purchaser, who “sold everything he had and bought it,” is Jesus?
Based partly on the verbal connection of the verb “bought” with 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (“You are not your own; you were bought at a price”) and Revelation 5:9 (?You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”)

Doug,
I’ve seen that view; Klyne Snodgrass examines the thesis and finds it a bit fanciful.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.