Everything Has a Price

Count the Cost

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Luke 14:28

“The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life, which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.” ― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Good things cost. Having a family means your time and money are not your own. Remaining single means you have your time and money but loneliness may haunt you.

Bad things cost. Continuing an addiction means loss of health, friends, family and possibly arrest. Not paying your bills may cost you more than paying them with the rewards of bad credit, no home mortgage or harassment from creditors.

Following Christ costs. However, a lot of things life dishes out to us happen to those who don’t follow Christ too. However, they don’t enjoy a loving relationship with the Father, grace, counseling, spiritual family or eternity with Him. We do. We are to set our sights on what is “Eternal” while the nonbelievers do not. For them, this is it.

Love costs. “But we don’t grieve as those without hope.” “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” Love anything or anyone and it will die. It’s always a shock, but we are comforted knowing this world is not all there is. The Father provides comfort through his Son, creation and fellow Christians. The deeper the love, the deeper the grief. Grief is the final act of loving someone. Even Jesus grieved—the Man of Sorrow.

Everything we do costs something.  Freedom may mean war. Peace may mean conflicts and seemingly endless negotiations. Time spent with an ill friend costs us the time to do something pleasant. Spending time at work and providing for our families means hobbies are on the back burner.

Neglecting our time with the Father is very expensive. I spent the most fulfilling time with my Father in the car commuting. Your slice of intimacy with the Father may be early morning, jogging, over a cup of coffee or in the shower—any time and any place are good. The Father and I discussed everything! From my finances and the deaths of friends or family to asking for the Father to help me be full and reassured of His love, especially when I’ve done wrong. I am dependent on the Father for the very air I breathe. Acts 17:28 confirms this. I have fallen asleep praying to the Father. Experiencing the Father is not the same as knowing about him. We need both. Relationship. Companionship. Freedom from hiding the darkest secrets and struggles is such a gift. And healing. Transforming.  We don’t depend on willpower alone.

Musings

Everything has a price. Jesus fully paid our price so we may “boldly approach the Throne of Grace and find help in time of need.” Think of the Father’s price—the crucifixion of his only Son.

No matter the struggle, the Father is always there for us. He always brings good out of bad to those who love Him. He loves us more than we can comprehend but we’re learning.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for Your Son who fully paid the price so we may be called your children. Guide us in the choices we make today. Help us to see and count the costs and our blessings, especially the price Jesus paid so we can have communion with You—to be called Your friend.

Amen.