You won’t find them desired by any museum, but some of the items in my office are priceless. They’re so valuable, in fact, that they are not, and never will be, for sale. There’s simply no amount of money that could be used to replace the two old helmets, two worn out pairs of spikes, one very-used glove, and two sweat-stained hats that help to decorate the walls and shelves in my office.
These things I’ve collected over the years of playing baseball bring back incredible memories and immediately spawn stories told a thousand times. I’ve kept them because they matter to me, because few of my earthly possessions are more valuable than these things.
As valuable as these collectibles are to me, however, they technically do nothing for me, now that I’m not playing. They simply sit on a shelf or hang on a wall. In reality, they are now worthless, no matter how much I prize them.
Proverbs 23:23–“Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding.”
In my role as husband, dad, and pastor, I don’t get much use out of my old helmets, hats, and spikes. Truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding, however…that’s a different story.
As I have moved away from my playing career and into “real” life, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that the things that I have sometimes placed a higher value on my old equipment than on what will be useful long after those old playing days.
Young man reading this, I doubt you’d sell your glove for any amount of money. It’s literally part of you, isn’t it? But, what if you visited my office and saw my old glove just sitting on a shelf. Not so valuable, huh? Not so much a part of me anymore, right?
Young man reading this, all of the baseball stuff you value so much now will one day collect dust in your office. What will you have then?
Young man reading this, for what will you give away truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding? For what will you trade God’s truth? What will it take for you to give up on his wisdom, to stop listening to godly instruction, to throw away biblical understanding? You’d never sell your glove. Why would you consider selling out on the things of God?
Young man reading this, “buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” Listen to God’s pleading in that verse. Hear his voice calling to you. See his truth embodied in Jesus Christ. Surrender to him brings you something far more valuable than an old helmet. A truly priceless treasure is found in his truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Lord Jesus, I don’t want to one day have only some old baseball equipment. Use this time in my life to build into me your truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Give me the things that won’t just collect dust in my office. Amen.
