A Foolish Exchange

 Do you ever read “news of the weird” that tells about those “stupid criminals” stories?  Here’s a good one.

 A man walked into a convenience store, put a $20 bill on the counter and asked for change. When the clerk opened the drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register.  The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving his $20 bill on the counter.

          So how much did he get from the clerk? Fifteen dollars!

          We chuckle at the thief’’s stupidly, but have we ever done the same thing?  In a desperate attempt to get something of value, we give up that which is of greater value than what we received in exchange?  How disappointing!  How foolish! How absurd!

          It reminds me of Esau. Remember him? He exchanged his birthright for a bowl of stew. (Gen 25-27) Not a very smart exchange!

          The Bible calls Esau a profane man.  He profaned that which was sacred, that which was valuable.  We do the same when we exchange our virtue for a “one night stand.”  We are just as foolish when we exchange our dignity for week-end of revelry.  We are no less culpable when we exchange soundness of mind for a temporary high.  We are just as profane when we misuse the Lord’s day for our own personal pleasure rather than His purpose.

          Jesus put this in  the proper perspective when He asked,   “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:25-26, NKJV

          Any time we exchange God’s favor for fleeting fame, we’re guilty of a foolish trade.  Any time we exchange our eternal ““birthright” with God to “live for the moment”, we become profane like Esau.  Any time we exchange our integrity and reputation for  the passing pleasures of the world, we are as stupid as the thief and as foolish as Esau.

          Many today fit Paul’s description of the Gentile world, “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Rom 1:25

          The Hebrew writer warns: “Be careful that no one fails to receive God’s grace….Be careful that no one takes part in sexual sin or is like Esau and never thinks about God. As the oldest son, Esau would have received everything from his father, but he sold all that for a single meal.” (Hebrews 12:15a,16, NCV)

          Be wary of doing business with the devil.  Watch out for foolish trades.  And don’t exchange anything of eternal value for temporary, earthly gain.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman