Worthless, Yet of Infinite Value!
By John N. Quinn
FOR a number of weeks the head of the family had been out of employment, and the problem of how to furnish food for a family of six was a perplexing one. The pastor of the church with which the family was connected proved himself to be a friend indeed, nevertheless the situation became darker as the days went by. One night, with but a few pennies in the pocketbook, a visit was made to the stores in the city. As they trudged along seeking for “bargains,” the oldest boy’s foot touched a small parcel lying in the street. Hastily picking it up, he found it to be a dilapidated, empty pocketbook. He was about to throw it away when the father requested a look at it. The latter examined it more closely than had the boy, and to his surprise found a five-dollar gold piece stowed away in a corner of the purse. A search was made for something by which to identify the owner, but there was absolutely nothing in the pocketbook save the gold piece. The find was looked upon as providential, and when they wended their way homeward, it was with well-filled market-baskets. A little later changes occurred which brought employment, and from that time, although obliged to meet with many a struggle, absolute want has been unknown. “This treasure have we in earthen vessels.” The pocketbook in itself was valueless, yet that which it contained made it of value. If Christ be not in us, we are worthless, of no value in the sight of God. Christ seeks admittance into the life; and when he is admitted, we become the possessors of the pearl of great price — we are of infinite value. In ourselves we are nothing; in Christ Jesus we are of more value than all of earth’s silver and gold, or the cattle upon a thousand hills. Through Christ’s indwelling, our every need is supplied, and from that time onward no good thing is withheld, for he makes us to walk uprightly. The people of this world have magnificent jewel caskets made for their pearls and precious stones. God places his in earthen vessels, that the “excellency of the glory may be of God, and not of us.” Throughout the length and breadth of this sin-cursed old world, may be found God’s jewel caskets. The world’s people fail to recognize them, but God’s eye is upon them constantly. To him they are precious, and in that day of all days, when he comes to gather his jewels, he will make them to shine as the firmament, and as the stars forever and ever.