You are inFaith & Worship·Songs

← All Songs

The Kingdom Parables of Matthew 13 · Parts 3 & 4

I’m Trading Up

Lyrics by Bill Perkins · Vocals & Music by AI

Discovering the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price

One song, two arrangements. Both move from the hidden treasure in the field to the merchant and the pearl of great price.

Country Arrangement

Country Version

Warm and steady, tracing the path from the field where treasure was buried to the merchant who discovered one pearl worth everything he owned.

You never ask me to release what I value most,

until You place in my hands what I will value more.

I’m letting go, I’m trading up,

draining my own empty cup, and letting Your Kingdom fill me up.

I drove my shovel deep into the clay,

just working through another heavy day.

The blade hit iron with a sudden ring—

I cracked the lid and saw a holy thing.

Sold my coat, sold my bed, with a laughing heart and a lifted head.

Cleared out the house, sold off the keys, brought all my status to its knees.

It wasn’t a chore, it wasn’t a sigh—I couldn’t count the cash fast enough

to buy the field of dirt where the treasure lies, with holy laughter in my eyes.

For some, it’s treasure uncovered by chance. For others, a long, beautiful dance.

After telling of the digger, Jesus speaks of a merchant—two different men, one greater worth.

I walked through markets searching for the best,

gathering fine things to put my heart at rest.

Cherishing the beauty of the wealth I’d grown,

keeping a fierce hold on every pearl I’d owned.

Then I saw the One—the masterpiece of grace,

and suddenly my collection felt so commonplace.

I traded all I loved, let the minor riches fall,

because a greater value came and overwhelmed them all.

You never ask me to release what I value most,

until You place in my hands what I will value more.

I’m letting go, I’m trading up, draining my own empty cup,

and letting Your Kingdom fill me up.

You never ask me to release what I value most,

until You place in my hands what I will value more.

I’m letting go, I’m trading up, draining my own empty cup,

and letting Your Kingdom fill me up.

What I will value more.

Listen to the song

I’m Trading Up — Country Version

You place in my hands what I will value more.

Listen to All SongsGo to the StudyListen to Full Album

Tap Listen, then keep walking — the song follows you from page to page.

0:000:00
Lyrics: Bill PerkinsVocals & Music: AIbillperkins.com

Reggae Arrangement

Reggae Version

A brighter rhythmic arrangement of the same journey, from discovery in the field to the pearl that changes every value.

You never ask me to release what I value most,

until You place in my hands what I will value more.

I’m letting go, I’m trading up, draining my own empty cup,

and letting Your Kingdom fill me up.

I drove my shovel deep into the clay,

just working through another heavy day.

The blade hit iron with a sudden ring—

I cracked the lid and saw a holy thing.

Sold my coat, sold my bed, with a laughing heart and a lifted head.

Cleared out the house, sold off the keys, brought all my status to its knees.

It wasn’t a chore, it wasn’t a sigh—I couldn’t count the cash fast enough

to buy the field of dirt where the treasure lies, with holy laughter in my eyes.

For some, it’s treasure found by chance. For others, a long, beautiful dance.

After telling of the digger, Jesus speaks of a merchant—two different men, one greater worth.

I walked through markets searching for the best, gathering fine things to put my heart at rest.

Holding the beauty of the wealth I’d grown, holding a fierce grip on every pearl I’d owned.

Then I saw the One—the masterpiece of grace, and suddenly my collection felt out of place.

I traded all I loved, let the minor riches fall, because a greater value came and overwhelmed them all.

You never ask me to release what I value most,

until You place in my hands what I will value more.

I’m letting go, I’m trading up,

draining my own empty cup, and letting Your Kingdom fill me up.

You never ask me to release what I value most,

until You place in my hands what I will value more.

I’m letting go, I’m trading up,

draining my own empty cup, and letting Your Kingdom fill me up.

You never ask me to release what I value most,

until You place in my hands what I will value more.

I’m letting go, I’m trading up,

draining my own empty cup, and letting Your Kingdom fill me up.

What I will value more.

Listen to the song

I’m Trading Up — Reggae Version

You place in my hands what I will value more.

Listen to All SongsGo to the StudyListen to Full Album

Tap Listen, then keep walking — the song follows you from page to page.

0:000:00
Lyrics: Bill PerkinsVocals & Music: AIbillperkins.com
View Lyrics & Chords

Read along

Shared Lyrics

The arrangements share the same lyric with a few recorded variations. Reggae sings “found by chance,” “holding,” “grip,” and “out of place.” The lyric sheet follows the country wording.

You never ask me to release

what I value most,

until You place in my hands

what I will value more.

I’m letting go,

I’m trading up,

draining my own empty cup,

and letting Your Kingdom

fill me up.

I drove my shovel deep

into the clay,

just working through

another heavy day.

The blade hit iron

with a sudden ring—

I cracked the lid

and saw a holy thing.

Sold my coat,

sold my bed,

with a laughing heart

and a lifted head.

Cleared out the house,

sold off the keys,

brought all my status

to its knees.

It wasn’t a chore,

it wasn’t a sigh—

I couldn’t count the cash

fast enough

to buy the field of dirt

where the treasure lies,

with holy laughter

in my eyes.

For some, it’s treasure

uncovered by chance.

For others, a long,

beautiful dance.

After telling of the digger,

Jesus speaks of a merchant—

two different men,

one greater worth.

I walked through markets

searching for the best,

gathering fine things

to put my heart at rest.

Cherishing the beauty

of the wealth I’d grown,

keeping a fierce hold

on every pearl I’d owned.

Then I saw the One—

the masterpiece of grace,

and suddenly my collection

felt so commonplace.

I traded all I loved,

let the minor riches fall,

because a greater value came

and overwhelmed them all.

You never ask me to release

what I value most,

until You place in my hands

what I will value more.

I’m letting go,

I’m trading up,

draining my own empty cup,

and letting Your Kingdom

fill me up.

Receive a Devotional and a Song Each Week

Quiet. No rush. Just walking a few pages with Jesus.