Costly part 1
I don't know why this is, but one of the biggest things--ideas, concepts, whatever--that learned in school, one of the few things that really made an impression on me, is the idea of opportunity cost. Which basically means, if you do one thing you give up the opportunity to do something else. Which means there is no such thing as a free lunch, if I can say it that way. EVERYTHING comes with a cost. The trick is deciding whether the juice is worth the squeeze. Whether doing that thing is worth what it'll cost. My grandpa always says, "You can do anything you're willing to pay the conquences for." (And maybe that's why learning it a different way in school resonated with me, but I digress.) Let me quote a Bible verse that kind of says what I'm trying to say. 2 Samuel 24:24 NLT, "But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing." So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen." And while this might seem like King David was going out of his way to incure a cost, which is something that we seem to want to avoid at all costs... that's kind of the point. Because (again) EVERYTHING comes with a cost. And most of the time you get what you pay for. If it's worth a lot, it costs a lot. So when we're allocating our three t's (Time, Talent, Treasure) we need to make sure what we're spending them on is worth it. Proverbs 4:7 in the NIV kind of sums this up: "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Wisdom and understanding. See, the problem isn't what we know or don't know. We have an unction from the Holy One and we know all things. Deep down inside there's the truth of the matter. In the heart of the matter. The problem is that we don't understand what we know. Or we aren't wise enough to let what's deep down inside come out. We don't trust the truth--that our heavenly Father loves us, and always has, and always will--so we go around looking for love in all the wrong places. Instead of enjoying the gift we've been given, by receiving it and releasing it, we rob ourselves of that gift by trying to earn something that can't be earned. We cost ourselves the Kingdom by trying to have the world. And sometimes it's easier to just accept the world. The world is SCREAMING at us while the Kingdom speaks in a still, small, voice. Sometimes it seems like we are giving up a lot when we choose the high road. But, "...what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" (Mark 8:36 NLT). What's worth more? What you want NOW, or what you want MOST? And, as we're going to see as we get into this idea, the only REAL thing worth giving all you have and all you are... the only REAL thing worth spending your three t's on... is people. I've always said there are only two important things in this universe: God and people. Love God and love people. Love God BY loving people. And don't get me wrong, this is a costly way to live. But don't get me wrong... it's worth it.