"Buy Truth and Never Sell it" - Conclusion of WHAT HAVE YOU GIVEN UP TO BUY TRUTH?

Unscriptural customs and practices.   Giving up unscriptural customs and practices can be one of the most difficult prices to pay for truth.  Although some may find it easy to accept the Scriptural basis for  abandoning these practices, others may hesitate to pay the price because of pressure from family members, workmates, and close friends.  The situation may become emotionally charged, especially if a custom involves rites in honor of dead relatives.  (Deuteronomy 14:1)  The courageous example of others can help us to make the necessary changes. Consider the bold action taken by  some inhabitants  of Ephesus in the first century. 

Ephesus was renowned for its magical arts.  What did newly converted Christians who had been practicing magical arts do in order to put away those unscriptural practices and buy truth?  The Bible explains:  "Quite a number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them up before everybody. And they calculated their value and found them worth 50,000 pieces of silver.  Thus in a mighty way, the word of Jehovah kept growing and prevailing."  (Acts 19:19, 20) The faithful Christians made this costly sacrifice and gained priceless blessings.

What did you pay for truth?  We all spend time gathering flowers of truth.  Some also pay for truth by forgoing material advantages and by dealing with adjustments in their personal relationships.  Many have to make changes in their thinking and conduct and must give up unscriptural customs and practices.  Whatever the cost, we are convinced that Bible truth is well worth any price we have to pay.  It gives us our most precious possession, a close relationship with Jehovah. When we reflect on our blessings of knowing the truth, we find it difficult to imagine that anyone would want to sell it.  How could that happen, and how can we avoid making such a grave mistake?  We will consider these questions in the next article.  

Next time: "I Will Walk in Your Truth"

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