The Cost

Does something have value if it costs you nothing? Is a thing worth more simply because you have to pay more to own it?

Which holds more value:

1. The jeans you paid $300 for or

2. The (same, new-with-tags) $300 jeans you found at the thrift store for $10?

God cautioned the Israelites when they were getting ready to enter the Promised Land: “So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” (Deut 6:10-12, emphasis mine)

But the Israelites did forget. Again and again. Eventually, they ended up right back in the bondage God had saved them from all those years before.

We tend to be careless with things that cost us nothing.

I recently had the opportunity to rent a house with some unique features. These features meet some very specific needs and are a true blessing. My mom and I moved in mid-April just as the trees finished dressing in their spring frocks.

Over the next two weeks, our barren yard was transformed!

Lantana, roses, four o’clocks, esperansa, morning glories, and other wildflowers. An elderberry tree! Out back, we have what appear to be zucchini and tomato plants. Seemingly overnight, an entire garden oasis has surrounded our new home!

My Promised Land, my garden, cultivated by those who were here before me and given to me by God.

That which cost me nothing is more valuable to me than pure gold.

Should I boast of my garden, or of my God?

In 2 Corinthians, we read the Apostle Paul defending himself against the false teachers who had swooped into Corinth. These teachers spoke boldly and charged a fee for their message.

Paul asks the Corinthians, “Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?” (2 Cor 11:7)

In that day, many believed a speaker who didn’t charge a fee was an amateur. Paul admits he might not be polished and entertaining, but unlike the others, he spoke the truth.

And while the Corinthians may not have paid a price to hear the Gospel from Paul, Paul paid a price to preach it.

“Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.

Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;

in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak?

Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” (2 Cor 11:23-30)

Paul could boast in his infirmities because he kept his eyes on two things:

1. The immediate goal of his ministry - the Corinthians

2. The ultimate goal - glorifying God

“For all things are for your sakes,” Paul said, “that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” (2Cor 4:15)

Paul labored, Paul suffered, so that the Corinthians might hear the Gospel. And receive by grace through faith (Eph 2:8) the true Promised Land: eternal life with God.

As with the first Promised Land, we cannot work or labor to receive what God has freely offered to us. Yet with great cost to Himself.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

We have only to receive it. (Want to know more? Click here)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:9-10)

Have you received that which cost you nothing?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with this ‘wild and precious life’ God has given you?

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Phil 2:12-15)

Shine, Christian, shine, lest in your vanity, you forget your Lord.

Shalom.

AI Disclaimer: No part of this blog was written by bots. Every word, typo, grammatical error, and witticism is lovingly and/or accidentally crafted by my own two (very human) hands.