Exchanging Pearls for Peanuts: Living for What Mattered Most

Summary

Using a puzzle experience as an illustration, this article emphasizes the importance of investing our limited time, gifts, and energy in eternal purposes rather than temporary pursuits. It contrasts godly wisdom with worldly values through the example of Rehoboam, whose poor decisions brought lasting consequences. Believers are encouraged to use their God-given resources for faith, love, and service rather than exchanging lasting treasures for fleeting rewards.

A Puzzle Beyond Our Abilities

My grandson loves puzzles. I did not assemble a single puzzle until we began working on them together about two years ago. In the beginning, I couldn’t help him much. My skill is increasing, but he is still much better at it than I am. I used to say that if you handed me the last remaining piece of a 500-piece puzzle and gave me five minutes, I could probably complete it!

Knowing Our Limitations

My grandson and I have our limitations. A puzzle of “Starry Night” by Van Gogh revealed that some puzzles are still beyond our abilities. With much effort, we finished the border, but we were like tires spinning on wet ice after that.

Choosing a Better Investment

We agreed to disassemble the border and work on another puzzle within our capabilities. We were unwilling to exchange countless frustrated hours on a project that might never be finished. Our time was more valuable than that. And so is yours.

The Reality of Limited Time

When we are fifteen, we think we have all the time in the world in front of us. When we are senior citizens, we realize that we have already spent most of it. Many die before achieving senior-citizen status.

God’s Purpose for Every Believer

God has a good works-centered purpose for every believer (Ephesians 2:10) and has gifted us with the resources to fulfill it. We do so by investing our lives in eternal things (God’s word and people).

Exchanging Pearls for Peanuts

Doing so requires self-discipline because our natural tendency is to exchange pearls (our God-given gifts, time, and energy) for peanuts (pleasure, wealth, and fame). We have already done too much of that while marching to the beat of world system values (1 John 2:16).

Rehoboam Rejects Wise Counsel

Rehoboam exchanged pearls for peanuts when he succeeded his father, Solomon, as the king of Israel. His subjects complained that his father Solomon had made life difficult for them (2 Chronicles 10:4). They asked for less oppressive leadership. Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father. They suggested that Rehoboam should honor his subjects’ request. They offered him pearls of wisdom that would have created a loyal following. Rehoboam rejected their wise advice.

The Cost of Foolish Decisions

He consulted and then followed his peers’ foolish advice, who told him to make life even more difficult for his subjects than his father had. Such “wisdom” did not win friends and gain a loyal following. Rehoboam’s unwise response to a legitimate request divided the kingdom of Israel and greatly diminished the size of his kingdom. He had no undo button for his foolish decision. We often don’t, either, when we make choices that aren't good for the long run.

What Mattered Most

Are we exchanging the pearls of our faith, gifts, time, and energy for what the Judgment will reveal, really matters? What mattered most is our faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6). Let’s quit exchanging pearls for peanuts!

Google AI Image