Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. ~Albert Einstein
Last week one of four renditions of Edvard Munch’s The Scream sold for an astounding $120 million at Sotheby’s auction. When the gavel fell to deafening cheers, the proud but unidentified winner willingly forked over the record amount for only one reason. The painting was a true original.
Of course, counterfeits abound, including comic parodies of Munch’s familiar work. One image features an alarmed Piglet, another, Lisa from The Simpsons. The Home Alone actor inspired many of us to mimic the classic pose for the camera. Quality reproductions and forgeries are easily found, appropriate for a dorm room, but worth almost nothing.
Deep down we know the worth of the authentic, the one-of-a-kind, whether a Monet or Babe Ruth baseball, and many of us would empty our pockets for the chance to give one pride of place in our home. We would rearrange the furniture, banish our paint-by-numbers and cheesy memorabilia to the garage; display carefully, and diligently protect our prize from harm.
We know how to care for, advocate for, to move heaven and earth on behalf of what has value. The question is, what do we believe is worthy of that care?
Jesus kept it simple: God matters, people matter, God’s plan for his creation matters. (Matthew 6:33, Mark 12:29-31). The rest will come as needed, if what God values is given pride of place.
Sound obvious? Maybe, but God’s values are not easily chosen in the heat of the moment, with plenty of counterfeits on the auction block as well.
What are you tempted to value above the things that really matter? What would you give anything to have?
