Almost exactly one year ago, we interviewed Pr Ricky Tan. In 1990, a prophetic vision had likened him to a wild stallion leading young people across mountains and cities, a symbol that soon became reality as he and his wife Lay Hwa were called to Chiang Mai, Thailand. There, they founded the Care Corner Orphanage Foundation (CCOF) in 1995, a vibrant home for underprivileged children – many orphaned or affected by drugs, AIDS, or poverty – offering not just shelter but a Christ-centered community focused on love, education, and purpose.
Later, they went on to establish Rainbow Home for HIV-positive children. Over the years, Care Corner has grown into a holistic ministry with over 70 children, integrating spiritual formation, practical life skills, and mission outreach, with many alumni now serving as leaders. What began as a cryptic prophecy in Singapore has become a flourishing legacy of hope in Thailand, reflecting the global and borderless nature of God’s kingdom.
Read our previous article on Pr Ricky Tan: https://christianitymalaysia.com/wp/a-stallion-in-a-foreign-land-pr-ricky-tan-and-care-corner/
On the 6th of July 2025, Pr Ricky shared from his heart at FGA KL about the immense value of God’s Kingdom and what it means to respond to the call of the Kingdom. His sermon was based on the three short but powerful parables offered by Jesus in Matthew 13:44–52 that revealed the incalculable worth of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus compares that incalculable worth to a hidden treasure in a field, a priceless pearl, and a fisherman’s net. Each of these images invites us to examine how we view God’s kingdom and how far we’re willing to go to receive it.
Pr Ricky shared that the first two parables (v44-46) represent two types of spiritual journeys. In the first, a man stumbles upon a hidden treasure in a field. Realizing its worth, he hides it again, goes off, and joyfully sells everything he owns to buy that field. The second parable tells of a merchant who is actively searching for fine pearls. When he finds one of great value, he too sells all that he has to buy it.
The first man, perhaps a simple laborer or farmer, wasn’t looking for treasure. He likely stumbled upon it while doing something ordinary – plowing, digging a well, or planting crops. But when he found it, he recognized its worth immediately and acted decisively. His joy fueled his sacrifice.
This speaks deeply to many who have encountered Jesus not through long study or spiritual searching, but through unexpected life events. Think of the Apostle Paul. In Acts 9, Paul, who was Saul at that time, was not looking for Jesus. In fact, he was persecuting Jesus’s followers. Jesus intervened on the road to Damascus with a dramatic, life-changing encounter. In a moment, the enemy of the gospel became its greatest ambassador.
In the same way, many of us today meet Jesus unexpectedly – through pain, crisis, sickness, or brokenness. Pr Ricky recalled trying to chase away Christian visitors from his home with a broom – a symbol of disdain in Chinese culture – only to later realize Jesus was reaching out to him through them. Others, like the thief on the cross beside Jesus in Luke 23:39–43, found the treasure in the very last moments of their lives. The thief wasn’t baptized or prepared. He simply recognized Jesus and cried out for mercy. And Jesus assured him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Perhaps your own story echoes this. Many come to Christ not after years of searching, but at their lowest point – amid depression, financial ruin, or family turmoil. In his sermon, Pr Ricky shared a personal testimony of attempting suicide multiple times. Yet even in that darkest place, the treasure of Jesus was revealed. It was not an accident but a divine appointment.
And then we come to the second parable; the merchant. Unlike the first, this man was deliberately searching for something valuable. A seasoned businessman, perhaps an intellectual or investor, he knew quality when he saw it. When he discovered the pearl of great price, he didn’t hesitate. He sold all he had and bought it.
This is a picture of those who, like the Magi in Matthew 2, set out on a spiritual quest. They study, question, and seek. Nicodemus in John 3 was such a man – an educated teacher of the law who came to Jesus for answers. The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was another, reading Isaiah as he returned from worshipping in Jerusalem. God sent Philip to explain the Scriptures to him, and in that encounter, the eunuch found his treasure.
These seekers remind us that Jesus is not only for the broken and desperate but also for the thoughtful, the learned, the searching. The point remains: no matter your background, when you truly encounter the treasure of Christ, nothing else compares. Whether stumbled upon unexpectedly or sought out diligently, Jesus is the treasure worth sacrificing everything for.
This is the key point that Pr Ricky imparted. Both the man and the merchant gave up everything to obtain what they had found. They didn’t simply admire it. They acted. They sold everything. They rearranged their entire lives around this newfound treasure. Jesus is not asking us to literally sell all our possessions, but He is calling us to put Him above everything else – our comfort, our ambitions, our secret sins, even our relationships.
Philippians 3:7–8 captures this beautifully: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Paul gave up status, reputation, and privilege for something far greater.
What is Jesus calling you to lay down? Is it your comfort? Control? A toxic relationship? An unrepented habit? The kingdom of heaven is not a side dish – it demands full surrender. But what we give up pales in comparison to what we receive: the presence of God, forgiveness, eternal life, and purpose.
The third parable in verses 47–50 serves as a sobering warning. Jesus compares the kingdom to a net cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When the net is full, the fish are sorted. The good are kept, and the bad are thrown away. Jesus explains this plainly: at the end of the age, the angels will separate the righteous from the wicked. The wicked will be thrown into a fiery furnace. It’s a reminder that though the invitation to the kingdom is open to all, not all will enter. Judgment will come. The day will arrive when the sorting happens. Are we ready?
Jesus ends this teaching by telling His disciples that every teacher of the law who is instructed in the kingdom is like a homeowner who brings out both new and old treasures. In other words, those who have received the truth must now share it – drawing from the old (the Hebrew Scriptures) and the new (the teachings of Christ). We who know the treasure must not hoard it. We must live it and proclaim it.
Finally, Pr Ricky conveyed a closing story that illustrates the danger of procrastination. The devil once held a meeting to stop people from coming to Christ. Some demons suggested denying God’s existence or denying hell. But one offered a more cunning strategy: tell people there is a God, tell them there is a hell, even tell them the Bible is true – but then tell them there’s still time. No rush. Enjoy life now. Wait until you’re older. This strategy won applause. Why? Because delayed obedience is disobedience. And procrastination leads many away from the treasure.
If you haven’t yet found the treasure, Jesus is waiting. Today is the day to respond. Not tomorrow. Not next year. If you’ve found Him but placed Him second, it’s time to reorder your life. If you’ve been caught in sin or hesitation, surrender now. Don’t wait for the sorting of the net to find out you’re not where you should be. Jesus is the treasure worth searching for, worth sacrificing for, and worth surrendering everything for. May we find Him, value Him, and follow Him today.
This article is an independent initiative and is not connected directly with FGA KL or Pr Ricky Tan.
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