Silas
Beloved Servant
Your prayer request is a simple one, and it is good to bring these practical matters before the Lord. We often think of spiritual things as separate from our daily needs, but God cares about every detail of our lives. If this sale is something you need, it is right to ask for His provision.
Yet, when we ask God to sell something at a good price, we should pause and consider what we mean by "good." Our hearts are so quick to measure good by the number at the bottom of a receipt. But the Scriptures remind us that our definitions are often too small. There is a foundational truth we must hold onto: God is good, and He is good to those who are of a clean heart. We can become confused when we look at the world, seeing those who have no regard for God seeming to prosper. We might even ask, “Why are they so successful?” But knowing that God is good is the anchor, even when our circumstances don’t seem to match what we expect.
The desire for a good price can easily become a snare. We are dealing with weights and measures, just like people have for thousands of years. The temptation is to put a thumb on the scale, to get the best of the transaction, and to call that good. But a man is satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth and the work of his hands. What appears to be a good deal, gained through sharpness or anxiety, may not be the lasting good that leads to satisfaction. The wealth of this world cannot be compared to wisdom and understanding, whose price is far above rubies. You cannot purchase peace of heart with silver or gold.
I am also reminded of a man who came to Jesus asking, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” He was looking for a transaction, a good work he could perform to secure the ultimate good. But Jesus cut through that thinking. “Why do you call me good?” He asked. “There is none good but one, that is God.” Jesus was not denying His own nature; He was revealing it. True goodness is found only in God Himself, not in our accomplishments or our sales. That man’s problem was not that he wanted eternal life, but that he thought it could be secured by a deal. So often we fall into the same error, thinking that if we can just orchestrate the right outcome, we will have what we need.
Jesus told a parable about a pearl of great price. Many mistake it, thinking the pearl is Jesus and we must sell everything to buy Him. But salvation is a gift of free grace; you do not purchase it. The merchant selling all he has is a picture of Jesus, who gave everything, even His life, to purchase the church, His bride. Our good works don’t secure God’s favor; the good man obtains favor from the Lord by walking in faith, not by striking a perfect deal.
So, by all means, list your guitar. Prepare your work without and make it fit for the field. Be a good steward of what God has placed in your hands. But as you wait, do not let your heart become tangled in the transaction. Do not envy the one who seems to sell faster or for more. A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a heart choking on the need for a certain outcome will find no good.
Trust that if you are seeking Him, God will turn even a seemingly disappointing result toward your good. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. The restraint He places on our desires is always for our welfare, because He knows what would destroy us. May your heart find rest in the God who is truly good, and may that confidence shape your waiting as much as your asking.
Yet, when we ask God to sell something at a good price, we should pause and consider what we mean by "good." Our hearts are so quick to measure good by the number at the bottom of a receipt. But the Scriptures remind us that our definitions are often too small. There is a foundational truth we must hold onto: God is good, and He is good to those who are of a clean heart. We can become confused when we look at the world, seeing those who have no regard for God seeming to prosper. We might even ask, “Why are they so successful?” But knowing that God is good is the anchor, even when our circumstances don’t seem to match what we expect.
The desire for a good price can easily become a snare. We are dealing with weights and measures, just like people have for thousands of years. The temptation is to put a thumb on the scale, to get the best of the transaction, and to call that good. But a man is satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth and the work of his hands. What appears to be a good deal, gained through sharpness or anxiety, may not be the lasting good that leads to satisfaction. The wealth of this world cannot be compared to wisdom and understanding, whose price is far above rubies. You cannot purchase peace of heart with silver or gold.
I am also reminded of a man who came to Jesus asking, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” He was looking for a transaction, a good work he could perform to secure the ultimate good. But Jesus cut through that thinking. “Why do you call me good?” He asked. “There is none good but one, that is God.” Jesus was not denying His own nature; He was revealing it. True goodness is found only in God Himself, not in our accomplishments or our sales. That man’s problem was not that he wanted eternal life, but that he thought it could be secured by a deal. So often we fall into the same error, thinking that if we can just orchestrate the right outcome, we will have what we need.
Jesus told a parable about a pearl of great price. Many mistake it, thinking the pearl is Jesus and we must sell everything to buy Him. But salvation is a gift of free grace; you do not purchase it. The merchant selling all he has is a picture of Jesus, who gave everything, even His life, to purchase the church, His bride. Our good works don’t secure God’s favor; the good man obtains favor from the Lord by walking in faith, not by striking a perfect deal.
So, by all means, list your guitar. Prepare your work without and make it fit for the field. Be a good steward of what God has placed in your hands. But as you wait, do not let your heart become tangled in the transaction. Do not envy the one who seems to sell faster or for more. A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a heart choking on the need for a certain outcome will find no good.
Trust that if you are seeking Him, God will turn even a seemingly disappointing result toward your good. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. The restraint He places on our desires is always for our welfare, because He knows what would destroy us. May your heart find rest in the God who is truly good, and may that confidence shape your waiting as much as your asking.
