Consider The Cost

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A mother planning dinner for her family while trying to maintain the household budget considers the cost of the ingredients of the meal she plans. A carpenter carefully measures and plans for the necessary supplies he needs before building a house to manage the cost. Every decision that is made must be compared to the alternative and the cost of its consequences. A wise man considers the cost in all things; not just for the present but also the future. How foolish a man would be to think himself wise to view the possessions he can see but yet give no consideration to the neglect of his soul.

If in the drive to gain in the here-and-now, we neglect the growth and life of our soul, which is the part that longs for God, then we have gained nothing. Earthly wealth whether monetary or as the pursuit for personal gratification, will eventually turn to dust. Eternity is a long time to carry around pockets full of dust! The most profitable of investors goes to an expert in the area that he wishes to invest. Doesn't it make sense to consult the ‘Wonderful Counselor’ for the most important investment of our lives?

The bible says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you (Luke 12:31).” No bank in the world can ever yield a better return than that! To invest in Christ means to give up your own control and to give up self; self-promotion, self-centeredness, self-preservation, self-sufficiency, self-loathing, self-doubt, self-self. It is a choice. You can choose not to sacrifice self but everyone will sacrifice something, if not self than soul. It can’t work both ways no matter what the devil tries to make you believe. You can’t have it all unless you give it all. Give all of yourself to him. Give all your guilt, shame, pride, superiority, fear, worry, doubt, jealously, pettiness, control or any other controlling substance in your life. Loose control to gain freedom, it’s worth the cost!





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Grafted

She took the utmost pride in her work and gave meticulous attention to detail not to mention she was a very caring person. All of these attributes were precisely the reason why she was the favorite unit clerk among all doctors on the cardiac floor of the local hospital. Along with a good job, Blair had a loving husband and four precious children. She confessed belief in God and Jesus Christ and continually admitted being blessed. Yet there seemed to be something missing-something that was keeping her from being truly content.

Blair had a very troubled childhood and could not count on her mother to be the role model she needed. The only love and security she had ever known as a child came from her stepfather who had died just a couple of years ago. While dealing with her grief she would always verbally acknowledge blessings in her life but then would finish by expressing the frustration she experienced either with work, kids, her husband or all of the above! This behavior started becoming routine and the frustration began to intensify with much of it stemming from petty grievances toward her husband. Socks on the floor, clothes folded ‘incorrectly’ and crumbs left on the kitchen counter were offenses that were so disturbing to her that their marriage was in jeopardy. A pleasant weekend would bring hope of reconciliation only to be followed by the frustrations of daily life.