What is Your Price? by Luke Liechty, Guest Contributor

   What is your price? Do you have a price? You protest that you could NEVER be bought. Me thinks thou protesteth too much. I might add that I too would like to protest that I could NEVER be bought. But I know what I am about to write and so I do not protest...as much.

What does it mean to be bought, at least in the sense that I am asking the question? To be bought means at what price would you be willing to compromise your calling, forsake your family, and/or betray your beliefs? What would someone have to give to you, promise to you or persuade you of in order for you to vacate your values and disobey God?

While the majority of those reading this, including myself, would like to say that there is never a price to which we/I would be willing to yield, the Bible does give us warning as to WHEN we might be willing to yield. Judges 17 and 18 are two chapters that are full of irony and warning containing three illustrations as to When we might be willing to be bought.

The first illustration is Micah. Micah stole an enormous amount of money from his mom. Micah, for earthly gain, was willing to forsake the Mosaic Covenant and break the 10 Commandments. What was his price? Earthly gain. Who was he willing to violate? The ultimate violation was against God, but he could also be bought into the idea of violating his family, his mother at that! In the end, that which he stole was used to make gods of his own hands which he would lose to another. How quickly the possessions of this earth trade hands! How much more serious does this illustrate the necessity of laying up of treasures in heaven where thieves do not break in and steal?

The second illustration is Jonathan. His name is not mentioned until Judges 18:30. Until that point, he is known only as a young man of the Levites. As a Levite, Jonathan would either have been appointed to the service of the priest at the Tabernacle or he would have been appointed to one of the 48 Levitical cities. If you will remember, the Levites were not given any land as an inheritance for God had said that He would be their inheritance.

Jonathan forsook his heavenly calling and for what price? Earthly prominence and possessions. Serving in his earthly capacities as designed by God would not have led Jonathan to a place of great notoriety in all likelihood. His role would have been one of support and not so much one of public adoration. But now, the opportunity to be esteemed by Micah and his family was the price for which Jonathan was willing to be bought.

Rather than service to God's calling, Jonathan wanted preeminence in the eyes of men. Later, when the Danites would steal Micah's idols and confront Jonathan, he was bought with the idea of not serving only a single family but having preeminence amidst a whole tribe. Jesus taught us to beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts.

The third illustration is the tribe of Danites. The price for which they were willing to be bought was ease. The Danites, because of disobedience, had been driven into the mountains by the Amorites. This is learned from Judges 1:34. We know they must have been disobedient because to the obedient, God had promised that He would drive out their enemies before them. The Danites had been given an inheritance of choice land. All that they had to do to possess it was to obey God and drive out its inhabitants. This they were unwilling and unable to do. The Danites sought out an easier and more profitable inheritance.

What could possibly be more profitable than the land of Promise? In their eyes, there were other places better than where God had placed them. On their journey to this land, they stole Micah's idols and hired Micah's priest. With their own gods, their own priest and their own land, the Danites could do what they wanted, not have to travel to the Tabernacle and not have to fight conflicts which would call for confidence in and obedience to God.

Instead, they attacked a peaceful city to the north, destroyed its inhabitants and set up their own city. The price that could buy the Danites was a life of ease, luxury and self rule.

Eventually, under the reign of Jeroboam, the city of Dan would become a rival to the Temple in Jerusalem and house golden calves in mockery to God's revealed will. Their pleasure lasted for a season. But eventually, they were destroyed by foreign invaders. When then are we warned that we can be bought?

1.   When we are lustful of the property of others.
2.   When we are unhappy with the station in life to which God has appointed us.
3.   When we choose ease instead of obedience to God.

Luke Liechty

Comments

[Byroniac]

Luke, thanks for the 2x4 between the eyes, especially point #2. Good word!

[selahV]

Luke, in light of this post, I wonder how many ministers would change their minds about the resumes they submitted last week? Powerful word as I accept the place in which I've been planted to serve my Lord. Thanks. selahV

[Luke]

Byron,
A 2x4? I certainly hope that what I wrote did not come across as a person wielding a 2x4. I would much rather warn someone before hand though instead of helping them pick up the pieces afterward.

Mrs. V,
It also helps me to remember why I am where I am. And when you think about it, it really is all the little guys that do so much of the unsung work but the best part is, is that when a little guy messes up, no one seems to notice so much. But when a prominent person does, whooey, they get all kinds of newspaper articles written about 'em. Serving the Lord where He puts us certainly has the best advantage.

[Byroniac]

Perhaps the correct word I should have used is, "Striking." It's given me food for thought. I need to re-read it.