By Ron Bartanen
There
are some things in life that are of such value that
they are considered “priceless.” They
are things “money cannot buy.” Once
obtained, you would never want to part with them. I
enjoy watching “Antiques Road Show” on TV, especially
the episodes in which individuals obtain items that
others may have discarded in a junk-pile, or sold in a
rummage sale, only to be told by antique dealers that
what they found or purchased for next-to-nothing would
be valued in multiple thousands of dollars. While
these items may not be considered by their owners to
be exactly “priceless,” what was once considered by
others as valueless are regarded by the beneficiaries
as being of tremendous value.
What
price would you put upon love, friendship, health,
happiness, etc.? Would you part with any of these at
any price? Among the words of wisdom a father passed
on to his son are those of Solomon: “Buy the truth,
and sell it not” (Proverbs 3:23). Surely
no advice could be more practical than this. What
lessons can we obtain from these few words?
Truth
is priceless—obtain it at whatever the cost. Though
others may deem truth as indefinable, or even
irrelevant, and therefore of little value, the seeker
for truth seeks what is beyond price. The
true scientist will not allow himself to be blinded by
popular scientific theories or by political pressure,
but will devote his life to the pursuit of scientific,
provable truth. The
founders of our nation have sought to establish a
peaceful society on the basis of truth. Patriots
have shed their blood to defend the truth. Martyrs
have chosen to perish rather than renounce the truth. Truth
is life’s most valuable asset. Seek
it at whatever the cost.
Truth
is priceless—sell it not. Scientists
may sell the truth for acceptance in scientific and
political circles. Politicians
may sell the truth for votes. Preachers
may sell the truth for popularity. Let
us not be as Esau who sold his birthright to his
brother Jacob through indifference. Some,
in possession of the truth, have “changed the truth of
God into a lie” (Romans 1:25a). Some,
lured by the enticements of the world, have sacrificed
godly ethical and moral truth through willful sin,
even seeking to redefine truth that it may comply with
popular culture. Some
would abandon truth when truth becomes unpopular,
preferring the comfort of accepted traditions. Paul
prophesied of those who would “not endure sound
doctrine,” but would “turn away their ears from the
truth, and would be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy
4:3-4).
Truth
is the foundation for liberty. Jesus
said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free” (John 8:32). Free
nations will be those that respect God’s truth as
revealed in His word. Tyrants
rule where truth is no longer held in honor. Individuals
freed from the bondage of sin are those who obey God’s
truth—His word. Jesus
prayed for the disciples, “Sanctify them by Your
truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). He
revealed Himself as the standard of truth, saying, “I
am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me” (John
14:6). In
the world it is easy to substitute religion for truth. Absolute
truth is a rare commodity in today’s society, with
many substitutes. The
devil’s lies,deceptively presented by him as truths,
are more appealing to the carnal mind. The
indolent will satisfy themselves with whatever is
popular, while truth-seekers will “buy the truth and
sell it not.”
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