Switching Price Tags

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)

A man named Tony Campolo once wrote a book called “Who Switched the Price Tags?” The premise of the book centered on a plan that he and his friend devised when they were young. For a Halloween trick, they planned to break into the local merchandise store. They didn’t plan to steal anything; instead, their idea was to switch all the price tags.

They anticipated with glee the chaos that would ensue the following morning when costly things were marked as inexpensive, and the cheaper merchandise was labeled at a premium. 

Thankfully, the two rascals never carried out their plan, but our enemy the devil has played this very trick on us spiritually speaking. He has changed the price tags in our culture so that what is of little value somehow seems immensely important, and the things we really should esteem highly are treated as though they have little worth.

Sometimes I think that one of the worst consequences of being fallen creatures is our failure to understand what really is vital in and to our lives.

Don't let this happen to you. Don't let Satan switch the price tags on you and make you cheapen the things in your life that God says are valuable. And don’t be tempted to make great sacrifices for things that God says are fleeting. If we seek first God’s kingdom, everything else will fall into its proper place and perspective.