Not For Sale

Date:

Susan Beckett | The Dwelling Place City Church

Many years ago, I read an article about a local guy who appraised marbles – of all things! It sounds strange, but it was a fascinating piece about agates, cats-eyes, and clay marbles. My father had a large marble collection as a young boy growing up in the 30s, which he held onto. When I was about ten years old, part of his collection was given to me. I was thrilled and hung onto these beautiful round stones and glasses over the years. I contacted this marble expert to find out if I could get my own collection appraised. Sure enough – he would be happy to check it out – there was only one itsy-bitsy hangup – his fee. The price? His pick of any two of my collection. The cost was more than I was willing to pay, so that was the end of that. Sorry – but not for sale.

There’s a story told of Winston Churchill – sources say it’s unlikely – though not impossible – this happened. Nonetheless, it’s telling;

Churchill: Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?

Socialite: My goodness, Mr. Churchill…well, I suppose…we would have to discuss terms, of course.

Churchill: Would you sleep with me for five pounds?

Socialite: Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!

Churchill: Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price.

Howard Hughes once said: “Everyone has a price tag.” But is that really true? I don’t think so. I believe there are still people of integrity who cannot be bought off.

I recently saw an interview with Jennifer Sey, Levi’s brand president, who quit her job with the company after they tried unsuccessfully to silence her after she publicly spoke out against school closures during the Covid pandemic. Sey has four children and her opinion was that the schools should be kept open – her opinion. Levi offered her a one million dollar severance package but told her she would have to sign a nondisclosure agreement – in other words, keep your mouth shut. Her response? No deal. It was a tough decision, but Sey was not for sale. I was impressed!

Losing one’s marbles is one thing, and losing a million dollars is quite another, but ramping this up a bit – how about losing your life? Around 160 AD, the martyrdom of Polycarp was documented. The early Christian church was hated by the Roman Empire, mainly for the refusal of Christians to sacrifice to the Roman gods. The Romans often demanded that the Christians deny their faith or be killed.

Brought before the tribunal, Polycarp refused to deny Christ, although the proconsul begged him to “Consider yourself and have pity on your great age. Reproach Christ and I will release you.” Polycarp replied, “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never once wronged me. How can I blaspheme my King, who saved me?!” Long story short, he was martyred – they tried to torch him at the stake but the fire wouldn’t burn

him, so they plunged a sword into him instead. Polycarp paid a dear price, but he wasn’t for sale.

Polycarp is the exact opposite of the character in the 2000 movie Bedazzled, where a man sells his soul to the devil in exchange for seven wishes in an attempt to win the affections of a girl – only in Hollywood! We need to grasp the seriousness of eternity and value our souls! While it’s true that salvation is a free gift from God, it’s also true that our salvation has a tremendous cost attached to it. The price of a man’s soul is so great that God had to pay for it Himself.

God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, has allowed us to have a say in what happens to our souls. We call this “free will.” Even though a soul has infinite worth, it’s not something we can put a dollar value on! In Mark 8, Jesus asks this provocative question: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

On January 8, 1956, a young American missionary – Jim Elliot – was martyred, along with four other missionary friends in Ecuador. He had penned this perceptive line before he died: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Bottom line – Not for Sale!

Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you can contact them at DDPCityChurch.org

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