More Valuable Than A Picasso

More Valuable than a Picasso

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” And again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.” 1 Corinthians 3:18-20

Sometimes we simply don’t have a choice. There are some things we seem compelled to do no matter how ridiculous, unwise, or insane they may seem to be. That must be how Pablo Picasso felt as he began burning some of his own paintings—simply to keep warm. Even though he had by that time painted thousands of canvases over the span of his career, I think most anyone would agree that for him to get to this point—where his paintings became nothing but his firewood—was quite a loss.

Pablo Picasso decided his own survival was worth more than his paintings. Before you hastily agree that you’d make the same choice, think of what you value in your life. If it wasn’t a matter of your survival, would you be willing to sell or walk away from those things? If you listed family as one of them, of course your answer would be no. Many of us simply place value on the wrong things. And oftentimes we do it unwittingly and unintentionally by simply not spending the time with family and other important people and things that we should. The value society places on things becomes a pretty steady drumbeat in our heads and hearts and is very often at odds with the value that God places on those same things.

Society places value on objects, on wealth, on the size of our houses, and on the number of cars in our garage. Society emphasizes things like résumés, trophies, awards, and winning simply for the sake of winning. Society has inverted the things it considers valuable with what God intended for us to place first, the ones He says should guide our lives. To live the life of godly wisdom that seeks a life of significance, impact, and legacy that God created us to live—we need to switch them back!

It won’t be easy because people are often assessed in the world by the things they acquire. And so our calendars are often empty of time with our families. But whom will you call to your bedside in your last hours of life—your banker or your stockbroker? Or your loved ones? Will you ask to see your bank statements, trophies, and diplomas one more time—or will you look at photos of loved ones who aren’t there at that moment?

What do you value more—things of eternal significance or things that are temporal? Focus on the eternal things, for that is the beginning of godly wisdom.

Uncommon Key > What do you consider of eternal significance in your life? Consider writing a letter now to your loved ones, telling them what you value the most.