By Fuana Tmarsel —-
It was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste match time on the old violin.
But he held it up with a smile.
“What am I bid, good folks?” he cried.
“Who’ll start the bidding for me? One dollar?” he continued. The crowd was silent. “Two dollars, who would make it 3?” He paused to wait and then began again. 3 dollars, going once, twice; going, going for 3?” From the back of the room, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; he brushed the dust from the old violin, tightened the lose strings, and he played a melody - pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings. When the music ceased, the auctioneer said in a voice soft and low; “what am I bid for the old violin and he held it up with the bow and began –“1,000 dollars; 1,000? who will make it 2? $2,000.00 who’ll make it 3?” he continued. “$3000 once, 3000 twice; going once, going, and gone.” said he.
The people cheered and some of them cried and said, “we don’t quite understand. What changed its worth?” The auctioneer quickly replied, “it was a touch of a master’s hand.”
And so it is with many a man whose life is out of tune and is battered and scarred with sin, and is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin.
A mess of pottage
A class of wine
A game and he travels on
He’s going once,
He’s going twice
He’s going and almost gone
Then the Master comes; a man is renewed. The foolish crowd can never quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that ‘s been wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand.
I transcribed the above allegorical narrative from a gospel DVD to share because it touched me deeply. For many of us, especially during these economically depressing time, difficult situations may trigger low self worth and a sense of worthlessness. This is sometimes exacerbated by our society that measures man’s worth based on customary contributions, positions at work, or family standing, bank accounts and so on. We must remember that these are man-made calculations impacted by the corporate dominance and its cousin pride. But the truth is – in the face of our Maker, we are all equally loved, equally valued and equally pursued by Jesus who shed His precious blood for each one of us, that we may know His Name and feel the Master’s touch. May the story remind you that you are worth much more to Him. Be blessed this year!
