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Super Short Stories: Life Long Learning.

📘 Volume 1 – The Foolish Trade

By Pastor Terry

“Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” – Proverbs 23:23 (NKJV)

John was down to his last two bullets as the desert sun beat down. His canteen was dry, his boots were cracked, and his hands shook from thirst. Across the dried plain, an old trader approached with a sly grin and a dusty bottle of whiskey.“One shot for another?” the man offered, holding up a single bullet in exchange for a single swig.

John hesitated, knowing the ammo could mean safety, maybe even survival. But the fire in his throat burned louder than the whisper of reason. He made the trade. The whiskey hit hard and quickly—but the regret hit harder and stayed longer.

That night, when coyotes howled and shadows moved, John had nothing left to defend himself. The trade was made, and the cost was actual.

Reflection: How many of us have traded something essential for something emotional? Maybe it wasn’t a bullet for a drink—but was it your integrity for a promotion? Your peace for a fleeting thrill? Your time with God for another hour of scrolling?

God calls us to buy the truth—and not sell it. We must stand firm in a world where people trade away truth for convenience, relationships for image, and convictions for comfort. The cost of a foolish trade is rarely known at the moment—but always felt in the aftermath.

Wisdom knows what not to trade. Truth isn’t cheap—but regret is costly.

💬 Tell Us What You Think! This is the first edition of our new Super Short Stories series—and we’d love your feedback. Was it helpful? Stirring? Would you read more like this? Leave a comment or message us at docbailey27@ docbmedia.com