Some years ago, as I perused the religious section in a used-book store in Tampa, a certain book caught my eye. It was The International Bible Commentary, gen. ed. F. F. Bruce. I've always admired the works of F. F. Bruce, and noting that the bookstore was selling it at an excellent price, I decided to buy it. But there was another reason that I felt like I had to have that particular book. Inside the front cover, there was a handwritten note that made me stop and think. And it made me sad.
As I read the note, I soon realized that this book had been a gift from a mother and father to their son or daughter. The note read as follows:
The answers to happiness, success, and life were written long ago. Read the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. Make them your daily companion and all is yours that is important in living!
*Proverbs 1-9
*"I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: (From which cometh my help?) From whence shall my help come? (ASV) My help cometh from Jehovah, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2,3-8)
*"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path."(Psalm 119:105)
**Psalm 19:7-14
Love, Mom and Dad 7/13/90
This would have meant little to me, except for the fact that I bought the book on 4/20/91. If you do the math, from the date (7/13/90) of the book's inscription to the date when I bought it, you will arrive at just a little over nine months. This is what made me think, and feel a tinge of sadness.
You see, this Bible commentary was obviously a thoughtful gift from a mother and father who wanted their son or daughter to think seriously about divine scriptural wisdom that could be of immense help. Yet, nine months after the person received the book, I found it on the shelf of a used-book store. How did it get there so quickly? I realize that I have no way of knowing for certain, but there is a probable scenario that is troubling to consider. This particular used-book store buys books from people who bring them into the store to sell. Had this son or daughter dumped this book for money soon after receiving it from mom and dad? Did the message that the parents tried so hard to get across go unheeded? It is distressing to contemplate a young man or woman indifferent to spiritual things, and the concern of his/her parents, reselling a Bible commentary less than nine months after receiving it as a gift with a personal inscription. This would be quite a commentary on our age.
Children with good parents have many good blessings, including a good name, love, advice, and wisdom, handed down to them. The children can use these things to better themselves and their lives, or foolishly throw them away as they pursue the things of this world. For money, many, if given the chance, would sell their souls to a used-soul store. Such worldliness comes with a heavy spiritual cost (Matthew 16:26). Have you thrown away the blessings afforded you by the godly people around you? Have you traded your soul for this present world? Isn't it time to get your life back on the pathway that leads to life?