Asking Too Little

Scripture References: Numbers 24:6-9; Galatians 5:1

Trusted with one of the most prestigious positions in the United States military, the sergeant served in counter-intelligence, infiltrating the Soviet Union’s KGB spy network. He personally handled several double-agents, who ostensibly served the Soviets but in reality were U.S. operatives. Two years after leaving the army, the sergeant went to Tokyo, met with a KGB officer, and supplied him with information that compromised at least one U.S. double agent. Others could have been exposed. For this unbelievable intelligence windfall the man demanded and received $11,000 from the Soviets. Business failures had driven him deeply into debt, and he turned to perfidy to escape. But such astounding information for a mere $11,000? How little he thought of his position! He could have bargained only briefly and raised the offer several times beyond that.

Judas got thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal of Christ, and the sergeant got $11,000. The traitor represents us all spiritually. Satan would pay premium rates to secure our tremendous spiritual power and potential if we weren’t so anxious to sell at bargain-basement rates. To have us in his service, with our skills at his disposal, our lives in his keeping, he would offer us fabulous promises and awards. But we don’t think that highly of ourselves. We demand from him nothing equal with or even comparable to our worth. In that sense, we love ourselves far too little!

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV © 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
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