Don't Sell Too Much

The city of Brooksville, Florida, sold more than it intended to. Business owner, Bobby Read, bought a small utility building for only $55,000, intending on turning it into a workout gym. But legally attached to the deed was the adjacent structure, the city’s only water tower. The sale was complete and the deed transferred before Read, the buyer, saw what had happened. The city’s legal department never saw it. And for a time, Read was the legal owner of the city’s water tower. Fortunately, he eagerly deeded it back to the city as soon as the paperwork could be processed.Ryan also sold more than he intended. He thought he was selling just one night for a little pleasure. He wound up selling his marriage and relationship with his kids…for the rest of his life.Tiffany sold more than she intended. She thought she was selling some inside information about a friend for a laugh. Because of the sacred trust she violated, she ended up selling that friendship, along with many others in her former circle.When you are selling, something more is almost always attached.It’s what happened when Esau was craving food, and Jacob was more than willing to sell him his soup for the price of Esau’s birthright. I’m sure it was a good meal, but it was one that he paid for, for the rest of his life.You might be about to do that with your finances, career, family, or friendship. Pay attention to what's attached to what it is that you are selling. Because in most cases, the one you are selling to will not be interested in deeding it back. In fact, the evil one may not be so interested in getting what you think you are selling, he’s interested in what comes with it.“See that no one is...like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done” (Hebrews 12:16–17 NIV).