Anyone who would throw away a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth gets what he deserves.

That’s exactly what a couple of Florida teenagers did a few years ago, proving once again that you don’t have to be intelligent to be a thief.

The two boys, who should have been out practicing baseball, broke into a baseball card store and stole sports collectibles worth $45,000. Apparently, as they were sorting through their hot stuff, they took one look at the baseball, decided it was worthless, and threw it in a dumpster.

After the boys were arrested and spilled their story, authorities rushed to the dumpster in question. It was too late. The baseball, which had been signed by Babe Ruth, had met with the same fate as banana peels, old Kleenex, and discarded milk cartons: the incinerator.

Before we are too hard on the boys for tossing out this piece of baseball history, consider other valuable things people throw out all the time.

Young people throw out their virginity in the rush for pleasure. God’s will gets tossed aside because of a misconception of what brings happiness. Good health gets trashed in the pursuit of some perceived enjoyment from cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs. A growing knowledge of God gets dumped by a schedule that makes no time for God’s Word.

In Luke 15, we read about the son who threw away his youth, thinking he’d enjoy the fun of the party life. Well, he may have had a few good times, but it led straight to destruction. It wasn’t worth throwing away his inheritance and good name for.

Consider the value of what God has given you. Then vow not to throw it out. Don’t trash the good things in life.