Proverbs 27:21 “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.”
During his reign, King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in crippling debt because of the war effort. As he sought to build his nation, finances had simply run out. His loyal long-suffering subjects trusted him to provide for them, but he felt cornered. Capitulation to the enemy was unthinkable, but what else could he do? In the end, he devised a creative plan. He asked all the women of Prussia to bring their gold and silver jewelry to be melted down for King and country. As a replacement for each ornament, they would receive a bronze or iron decoration as a symbol of gratitude. Each insignia had inscribed: “I gave gold for iron. 1813.” He could not have anticipated the overwhelming response that followed. Most women prized their gifts from the king much more highly than their former jewelry. The reason why became quickly apparent. The insignias were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. In due course, it actually became unfashionable to wear them as jewelry. Thus was established the Order of the Iron Cross. Members wore no ornaments except a cross of iron for all to see.
When we as followers of Christ come to our King, we’re invited likewise to exchange material excesses and adornments for a cross. Of course jewelry is not wrong in itself, but as the women of Prussia discovered with joy when offered the chance to sacrifice for the King, laying down our valued possessions for a greater cause is so much more worthwhile. As John Piper wrote: “God is calling us to be conduits of His grace, not cul-de-sacs. Our great danger today is thinking that the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn’t. Copper will do. No matter how grateful we are, gold will not make the world think that our God is good; it will make people think that our god is gold.”
How will what I have just read affect my choices today?
Lord, I choose to give ‘gold for iron’ today. Amen!
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