In 2004, a painting by Anna Mary Robertson, better known as Grandma Moses, was brought to the Antiques Roadshow for appraisal. Born before the Civil War, Robertson did not take up painting until late in her life. Her primitive style eventually became extremely popular, and her work commanded a high price. The man who brought the painting to be evaluated had lived nearby and his mother was a friend of Grandma Moses. He said, “She was just a wonderful friend of the family. And she would let my mother buy these paintings, which she thought had relatively little value. I guess my mother did, too. She probably bought eight or ten paintings in all, and my guess would be for perhaps under ten dollars each.”
The painting that was bought for around $10 was appraised as being worth $60,000! In her early days of painting, Grandma Moses did not think of her works as being very valuable, so she parted with them for next to nothing. How often do we give up that which is priceless for temporary pleasure or advantage? How often do we abandon that which matters most for that which matters least?
The best way to determine what matters the most to someone is not to hear what they say but to see what they do. The things we pursue and give our lives to are the things that we truly value the most. Fools do not seek wisdom because they do not place any value on it. Wise people will seek wisdom even at great expenses because they understand how important it is to successful living. When we value what God values we are on the path to wisdom.
“Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?”—Proverbs 17:16 (Source: The Antiques Roadshow episode aired on February 28, 2005)
It’s crucial to look into the mirror (the Bible, James 1:22-25) and evaluate yourself! What do you truly value? Eli, a priest, was doing the work of the Lord (I Samuel 2). Unfortunately, his sons had embraced ungodly lifestyles! Let’s look at 3 wake-up calls of an unhealthy home.
Perverse Living (2:22-26)
These boys were wicked!
They were immoral with women they met at the doors of tabernacle. (2:22)
Their evil reputation was well known among the people (2:23)
They lead people to sin (2:24)
They refused to listen to their father…even under the rebuke the Lord would judge them. (2:25)
Friends of George Burns have always kidded him about his singing. Burns, a master of self-deprecating humor, decided to take advantage of this and insure his voice for a million dollars. He thought it would be a wonderful publicity stunt.
"I was so excited," said Burns, "I couldn't wait to rush down to the insurance company. I took a cassette and a tape recorder with me so the insurance man could hear my voice. It was one of my best numbers -- a syncopated version of Yankee Doodle Blues with a yodeling finish. The insurance man listened patiently to the whole thing, then he just looked at me and said, 'Mr. Burns, you should have come to us before you had the accident.'” (Bits & Pieces, March 3, 1994, p. 7.)
While George Burns had not procrastinated, we can easily see the impact of procrastination and that it can bring devastating hardship.
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”
—Richard L. Evans, Bits & Pieces, March 4, 1993, p. 2
When we delay our choice to live for God, we can find ourselves paying a heavy price. We can miss out on the genuine love of God and others, the genuine joy of right relationship with Jesus, and genuine peace that passes understanding. Too many put things off that needed to be addressed yesterday. They are not worried about facing the Lord…more concerned about pleasures and comforts now… “worry about it later” is their moto! The battleground for this war is in our minds! Here are 5 resolutions for a strong action plan:
I will test my thoughts: Phil. 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.”
I will guard my thoughts: II Cor. 10:5
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
I will fight and sacrifice! Colossians 3:5-10
It’s too hard! / You need to fight! Colossians 3:5-10
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
I will work to renew my mind: Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
I will recognize small choices as important: Colossians 3:1, 23
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
A certain missionary society, in order to gain access for a missionary to work in some of the African tribes, sent down trinkets to be bartered with the natives. Among them was a package of little hand mirrors, such as ladies use.
The natives had never seen their own faces except in the waters of some lake or stream. So, the news of this wonderful instrument by which people could see their features was spread abroad. The missionary was invited by the tribe after tribe to visit them with his hand glass.
In the interior was a princess in one of the tribes who had been told that she was the most beautiful woman on earth. When she heard of this instrument in which she might see what a beautiful creature she was, she bade the missionary bring one of the mirrors. (The truth was that the princess was the least attractive woman in the tribe.)
She took the mirror into the hut to take a good, long look at her beauty. When she held up the glass and saw what she really looked like she lifted her royal fist, dashed the glass to pieces, banished the missionary, and made a law that no looking glass should ever be brought into the tribe again.
Why did the princess hate the glass? Because it told her the truth about herself—that she was an ugly woman—and she did not like it.
For some reason people turn away from the Bible. (Source: The Gold Mine, Lee Roberson)
Look into the mirror of God’s Word and evaluate what you see about yourself.