“A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!”
External, temporary things. What about the inner life? Everlasting life?
The Trade
The Lord gave me beauty for ashes,
And for sorrow He gave to me joy;
I was sad and oppressed,
He exchanged it for rest,
And a peace that the world can’t destroy.
I was poor and had nothing worth having,
Disappointment had saddened my life;
Now I’m rich as can be,
Since He traded with me,
Abundance of peace for my strife.
I was restless, but God made me quiet,
When I fully surrendered my all,
He gave me comfort for my fear,
Gave me smiles for my tears,
As He lovingly heard when I called.
Had He charged me the difference in trading,
Then His grace I could never afford;
But He cancelled my debt,
And I have no regret,
Tho it looks like I cheated my Lord.
Chorus
I traded my sins for salvation,
I traded my load for relief;
I got peace for my condemnation,
And the joy of my Lord for my grief.
I traded my life that was wasted,
A temple to dwell in God made;
I got so much more than I had before,
That I’m sure I got the best of the trade.
