I once started a children’s lesson with a discussion about garage sale finds.

“How would you feel,” I asked the kids, “if you found something worth a million dollars that was priced for $100? Would you be sad to give up that $100?”

The kids looked at me like I was crazy. “No!”

“But you could buy a lot of things for $100,” I persisted.

“You could buy a lot more with a million!” was their wise response.

“Oh! You mean I should look at what I’m getting instead of what I’m giving up?”

With that, we turned to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 13: 44-46: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

It’s easy to give up $100 if we know we’re getting a million, or even all we have for a treasure worth much more. Jesus calls us to surrender all we have to follow Him. We can do that — with joy —only if we believe His promises about the greatness of our reward.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice …” 1 Peter 1:3-6.