A rare Chinese bowl bought at a garage sale for $2.89 has sold at a New York auction for more than $2.14 million.
A New York family bought the bowl at a garage sale in 2007 for $2.89, and had it displayed in the living room for several years before becoming curious about its origins and having it examined. Turns out that the 13-centimetre-wide bowl is from the Northern Song Dynasty, which ruled China from 960 to 1279. So the family put it up for auction at Sotheby's fine Chinese ceramics and works of art auction. It was sold to a London art dealer, Giuseppe Eskenazi, for $2.14 million.
Imagine being that New York family! How good would you be feeling? But also imagine you were the person who unwittingly sold the bowl at the garage sale for $2. It could have been you who was $2 million dollars richer. That person had something extremely valuable but didn’t know it. They decided the bowl was worthless; how wrong they were.
When it comes to knowing God, it is amazing how we often don’t see the true value of our relationship with him. Jesus told this story…
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46
Knowing God, being part of his family and in his kingdom is a real treasure. But it’s a treasure that is at the same time hidden — i.e. not visible to all; not obvious to all.
Lots of people think the idea of getting to know God is stupid, ridiculous and worthless. However, we know that knowing God and being in His kingdom is incredibly valuable, worth selling everything you’ve got for it.
There may be times when you are tempted to give up on God, because you fail to see the value of the relationship. The Christian life can be tough at times and God can start looking more like a $2 bowl than a $2 million bowl. But remember that if you have God, you have more treasure than money can buy. If you have God, you have love, forgiveness, cleansing, salvation, hope, peace, purpose, meaning, direction, adoption, reconciliation, redemption, and, well… God.
What could be more valuable than that?
So don’t give up on God or throw Jesus away like an old bowl at a garage sale. Keep examining God to find out just how valuable he really is, and to find out just how rich you are to have Him as your Lord and Saviour.