Thrift-Store Picasso and the Face of Christ

 
It's one thing to say you're a Christian. It's another to act like one. What this means is not necessarily blessing people continually and saying you'll pray for them, or even radical acts of compassion in the manner of the Good Samaritan. Instead it is those day-to-day choices we make which test whether or not we really are followers of Christ.

Take the local story here in Columbus of the "thrift-store Picasso," which is still making national news. Nobody in the story has said anything about religion, but choices made and words uttered are still instructive because any of us might find ourselves in a similar situation.

In yesterday's update, the purchaser finally sold the piece to an anonymous local buyer and netted a tidy sum of $6,985.85. However, even though the original owner who donated the print to the thrift store has come forward, no mention has been made of the purchaser splitting his profit with that person. How easy this would have been -- the purchaser would still have considerably more than if he had sold the piece to Christie's in New York, which offered him $2,500 -- and what a delightful development which would warm countless hearts and give us all food for the journey.

Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.
Your reward will be great....(Luke 6:35). 

It is also interesting to take note of the new owner's lofty idea of his self-worth. We still don't know who that is, but “this is what he told me I can say," the purchaser reported: "He raises thoroughbreds, and he’s sort of a big deal.”

For we do not proclaim ourselves;
we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.
 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," 
who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge 
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)

This story deals with bringing things which have been hidden into the light. How infinitely more enriching it would if this news thread revealed to us the face of Jesus instead of that of "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

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