August 24, 2011
Have you noticed there are more yard sales in our community? eBay and Craigslist are full of items people are willing to sell. Many homes are offered at rock bottom prices in classified ads in newspapers, some even offered at a loss. Many are selling off jewelry and other precious items that they wouldn’t have thought of selling a few months or years ago. You name it, and someone is selling it somewhere. Everything seems to be negotiable.
Historically, people have often offered their treasures to the highest bidder but it seems to me that current economics are pushing us into such a climate that we are becoming reckless with what we have and who we are. The “oldest profession” is thriving as many are willing to sell their bodies for cash. In some quarters people are willing to sell their children and there is a growing list of women who are willing to be surrogate mothers by offering their wombs to provide children for those who are not able to do it for themselves. Some are willing to sell drugs to satisfy someone else’s addiction, and often find that the easy money provided can be addicting itself. Literature and life even witness to the practice of some who are willing to sell their souls to the devil for more success in getting what they want.
Every day, people go to work and take advantage of customers in order to keep a job they know is dishonest. An illicit affair tempts lots of us to risk the loss of precious relationships, to experience the momentary satisfaction of a pleasurable activity. In fact, most of us have, at one time or another, in one way or another, sold out to something. We have been paying for it since.
In the Bible there are many illustrations of such desperation. Adam and Eve ate the apple, Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew, David had to have Bathsheba, etc. Only Jesus stands out as one who would not sell out what was precious to him. He wouldn’t take the Devil’s bait, would not take the easy way, would not compromise his Father’s will for his own comfort and convenience.
I know times are tough. I also know God values us enough that He is willing to accept those of us who have sold out and learned to regret it. Our value to God is about our willingness to accept our failures and submit to His grace – to learn how to make better choices and discern what is truly priceless.
Gary
