That Which Is Of No Worth

Parker Coddington
Man Ec 300
464-75-9246
January 13, 1997
...THAT WHICH IS OF NO WORTH
2 Nephi 9:50-51 talks about buying, prices, and worth. The main point obviously does not refer to the literal exchange of money for goods or services, although the concept can apply to that type of exchange. The first sentence in vs. 50 calls to those who "thirsteth", or basically have a need or want. The may author have used "thisteth" because all mankind physically needs drink to survive; in the same manner, our spiritual thists need to be quenched in order for us to survive in an eternal and spiritual sense. The author calls to the destitute, or basically those people who aren't able to satisfy their thirst due to lack of money. The author isn't saying the milk and honey offered here is free-just that the price isn't in monetary form.
In vs. 51, the author talks about not spending money on things of no worth. Once again, this reference's deepest meaning isn't its literal one. The "money" referred to here are the things we do in our lives-how we spend our time, how we treat people, etc. On the surface, this admonition seem rhetorical. Who would spend money on something with no worth? That is the author's point. We need to be wary of what things we consider valuable. It is human nature to see the short-term benefits of things and ignore the long term costs, just as it's natural to see the short term costs and ignore the long term benefits. In order to achieve true happiness in the eternal long run, we must at times make seemingly unsavory sacrifices.