Ed, my neighbour next door, is only really interested in antiques if they are worth a good bit of money. I shared with Ed that we were driving into the Roadshow which was being held this week in Regina. Ed was sure I was just trying to get out of digging my potatoes until I showed him my box of antique treasures.
The full page ad about the Roadshow in the Regina Leader-Post also did a lot to cement his interest. Ed remembered a 1906 American Indian head penny he had set aside for years and he decided it must be worth something sizeable by now. Since we were going in anyway and it would be my gas there and back, Ed asked if he could come along.
Monday morning of this week dawned bright with great hopes that Ed and I would be celebrities at the Roadshow and come home with large cheques that would keep us smiling past Christmas. Both Ed and I had pretty well spent in our minds the large cheques we would get at the Roadshow.
After rereading the directions, we made our way to the hotel Wingate by Wyndham and found the Roadshow we had come to dazzle. I had a powder and a shot flask for a musket and a bone-handled hunting knife plus a small tin box. Ed had his 1906 American penny with an Indian Head on it.
I let Ed go first when it came to the evaluation of our antiques. Such pennies are very common yet - so no coin collector would be interested. It was the same story for my bone handled hunting knife - lots of them around so no collectors would want to buy my knife. Although my powder and shot flasks were very old (1850s), one is dented and the best price for the two was $40. My tin box, $15 to $20 if it went to an antique auction.
I brought all my antiques home a bit disappointed as I had them valued way higher in my mind. Ed is convinced that before he is dead his penny will be worth something. The antique evaluator said everyone has coins and articles they feel are rare and costly, but mostly they are common and of no significant worth.
It is a hard truth to find out that what we feel is rare and costly is really very common and of no particular value. Antique collectors are able to recognize what is rare and costly and what is common and of no particular worth. God's word calls us to be discerning about what is priceless and what is worthless. The Bible says, "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."
Jesus directs us to consider what is priceless and costly with these words, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
