"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." – Jesus, quoted in Matthew 6:19-21
If you’d like proof that Jesus’ words are true, simply watch an episode or two of PBS’s Vintage Antiques Roadshow, in which appraisals from 15 years ago are updated to reflect today’s values.
If you pay attention, you’ll be astounded at how many of the featured treasures have not appreciated one bit over time – have in fact lost significant value. I haven’t kept an actual tab. But my guess is that the vast majority have actively depreciated, while even those whose appraisals remain unchanged have essentially lost value, considering the damage inflation has done over the last 15 years.
Here are just a few examples from two recent episodes:
It’s really pretty surprising that PBS continues to run these “yesterday and today” programs, considering how discouraging they should be to those gambling on antiques. But they certainly underscore the futility of storing up treasures on earth. And they sure do validate Jesus' teaching on this matter. Wonder if it has occurred to anyone at PBS?
If you’d like proof that Jesus’ words are true, simply watch an episode or two of PBS’s Vintage Antiques Roadshow, in which appraisals from 15 years ago are updated to reflect today’s values.
If you pay attention, you’ll be astounded at how many of the featured treasures have not appreciated one bit over time – have in fact lost significant value. I haven’t kept an actual tab. But my guess is that the vast majority have actively depreciated, while even those whose appraisals remain unchanged have essentially lost value, considering the damage inflation has done over the last 15 years.
Here are just a few examples from two recent episodes:
- A Budweiser poster from the early 1900s was worth $2000-3000 in 2000, and is now valued at $1500-2000.
- Olympic memorabilia from the ‘20s and ‘30s went from an appraisal of $10,000 to $6000-8000.
- A Dresden porcelain vase worth $3000-3500 in 2000 is now appraised as $1200-1500.
- An 18th century New York tea table valued at $6000-8000 in 1999 was worth $3000-5000 in 2014.
- A Roseville advertising piece’s appraisal dropped from $2250-2750 to $1000-1500.
- A 19th century duck painting by J.F. Herring Sr., appraised at $30,000-35,000 in 2014, is now worth between $12,000-18,000.
It’s really pretty surprising that PBS continues to run these “yesterday and today” programs, considering how discouraging they should be to those gambling on antiques. But they certainly underscore the futility of storing up treasures on earth. And they sure do validate Jesus' teaching on this matter. Wonder if it has occurred to anyone at PBS?
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