True story: A lady presented a small jewellery box to be valued by the British TV Series, The Antique Road Show. She said it was her grandmother’s prize childhood possession. The host admired its intricate design and commented on the pretty gemstone worked into its lid. He held the gemstone to the light and the inside of the box was filled with an array of colourful specks of light. “Would you like to know its value?” he asked. “Yes, please,” she said. The Host smiled and said, “Your grandmother would be pleased to know that you still keep her childhood treasure close to her heart, but as for its commercial value…? I am sorry to say that it is worthless.” Her countenance fell, but she tried to smile as he explained: “You see, these pretty boxes were mass produced and are not rare enough to be a collector’s item.”
Jesus told a story of a merchant who sold everything when finding a pearl of great price, and of another man who, when finding a treasure, bought the field to make it his own, and of a third man who shrewdly used is master’s wealth to make friends before he was thrown out for his poor management. Jesus was noting that the sons of this world know how to use earthly wealth for personal benefit, while Christians struggle to learn how to use it for the Kingdom of God.
Though Christians call down the wrath of God upon themselves by cheating to make a profit, they are no less expected to make a profit—an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay is the standard.
It is God who determines what and when something is valuable. History is strewn with the failed attempts of religious elites to make wealth the centre of the church. Rejection of God’s use of the least to achieve the most, and the most to achieve the least locks in this cycle of failure.
We must ever be mindful of Jesus warning about greed in the name of God: “That which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God“ (Lk.16:15).
Seeking a spiritual evaluation of all things is wise. You might be shocked!
John Staiger
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