Joshua Bell decided to conduct an experiment. He went into one of the busiest subway stations in New York City and began to play his old violin. He played 45 minutes with his case open before him, as most street musicians and beggars do. He was dressed like them too. Of 1100 people who passed by seven stopped to listen to his music. For his efforts he collected $32 dollars.
Joshua Bell is used to playing before thousands on his priceless Stradivarius, making over $1000 a minute as one of the world’s premier violinists. He had just packed out Carnegie Hall the night before his little subway study. In the bowels of Gotham he played the same music as he played in that great hall. The difference? People missed him because of what they were looking for-- a cheap performance instead of perfection.
How often do we miss seeing the treasure of Jesus, because we’re looking for a cheap ticket? We want a ride to Heaven instead of Hell. We ask Him to get us out of this jam and that. “Take care of my problems, Jesus…and take care of ME! Oh, and I don’t want it to cost much. Give me God on the cheap.”
But He’s SO much more than “fire insurance,” a genie in a bottle, or a cheap ticket. He’s a treasure.
How will you show Jesus you value Him as a priceless treasure this Christmas?
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
