Value systems

I spent yesterday in Nashville, Tenn. Only the one day. Flew there in the morning and flew back in the evening on somebody’s dime. No luggage, not even a carry-on. The “somebody” whose dime it was thought it a worthwhile expenditure of his money to send for my husband and me because he wanted to talk about something. No Grand Ole Opry side trip, no country music marathon, no small talk derailed us, just getting down to business in the car from the airport, at the kitchen table over omelets, in the comfortable study, in the library using a blackboard, on a stroll through the grounds, over a late lunch of quiche in the dining room—and still squeezing the last minutes out of the day on the ride back to Nashville International Airport.

What is the value of a dollar? Of time? Of human resources? I mean, according to the Bible, which is the only opinion that counts.

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candice, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. …” (Acts 8:26–28, ESV).

The Spirit told Philip to go over and join the man in his chariot and have a conversation with him. Philip asked what the eunuch was reading, and the man told him. They discussed the meaning of the Isaiah passage the reader was stuck on, and it must have taken the better part of the day because we are told that Philip used Isaiah as a starting point to sail through the whole Old Testament. Meanwhile, the two men went for a joy ride in the chariot, still talking, and happened upon a body of water, which suggested a baptism to their joyful minds.

“And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Casarea” (Acts 8:39–40, ESV).

God owns all the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). He is like your rich Uncle Thurston Howell III, but with better priorities. And what flair! Who would have thought of plunking down all that cash just to get four saints together for a day of mutual exhortation and seeking divine wisdom? The Maker of the universe, that’s who.

A great stocking stuffer: Andrée Seu Peterson’s Won’t Let You Go Unless You Bless Me, regularly $12.95, is now available from WORLD for only $5.95.