We are living in interesting times. A savings account at my local bank is paying somewhere close to one percent and a long-term CD will get me a bit more than 2%. At the same time, we are now hearing about the possible risk of deflation. Add to that the fact that the housing market in America is in the dumper, people are losing their jobs at an alarming rate, and oh, my gosh, the Detroit car manufacturers are struggling to meet all of their insanely unrealistic obligations. Is there any good news?
Well, just last week I visited my friendly “Big Box Mart” (a made-up name, but I’m sure you can guess) store and eased my way over to the book section. I was astounded to find a brand new copy of the Bible, King James Version, selling for less than $5.
Think about that for a moment. A century ago, a Christian family likely had only one Bible, and it was handed down from a previous generation. A century before that, a family likely saved several months’ worth of wages to purchase a Bible, if they could afford one at all. Today, one can be had for less than an hour’s work at minimum wage.
No matter your religious persuasion, this has meaning for you. Simply thinking about this progression has value that you can apply in your life right now. For Christians, this means that the owner’s manual to life can be had for less than the cost of most drive-thru supper-in-a-sack meals. For “ye of little faith”, what it means is that, like Bibles, many things required to carry on physical and biological needs can be had for similar discounts to what your ancestors had to pay. Food, for instance, can be supplied with far less labor than in previous centuries. Clothing, as well.
Perhaps more importantly, though, a Bible can be bought and you can own a classic piece of English literature – the KJV is regarded as such – for less than many, many lesser known works of art. Even if you never try to read it, you really ought to own one at such an attractive price!