The Cost of Doing What's Right

There is a cost or costs associated with almost everything. We understand this concept in the market place. If I want to have a new car, then I must be able and willing to pay the seller's price. In that example, I also have to be willing and able to pay for the insurance, taxes and any maintenance. When we leave the marketplace, though, we don't always readily see the costs of what we want or what we do. In the realm of relationships, whether marriage, business or otherwise, there is a different kind of economy that works in determining costs. Cost comes not with money or precious metal, but with things like trust and character.

When you consider the cross and the resurrection, you are contemplating nothing less than God's sovereign plan of redemption. The Scripture is filled with references that indicate that the Father sent the Son. You'll find plenty of places where the Son speaks of offering himself to satisfy God's requirements. Ultimately, God's plan of redemption cost him his only son. Ultimately, Jesus' desire to please the Father and redeem sinful humanity cost him His life. Ultimately, God's plan of salvation cost God more than any one or any group of people could pay.

In the same way, when we attempt to do something the right way - God's Way - it costs us something. This is true in your life as a personal follower of Christ and it is also true of a faith community. Doing life God's way costs us. When a church calls a minister on staff, it costs us. When a church stands against sin, it costs us. When a church stands for the Gospel, it costs us. With all of these things come cost. I would conjecture, though, that not calling ministerial staff, not standing against sin, not standing for the Gospel or not doing life God's way costs us far more than if we choose not to pay the price for doing it his way.

Let me illustrate with the resurrection. The plan of redemption as designed and implemented by God cost Christ his life and the Father his son. That price was not wasted, though. It was invested. I say it was invested because of the resurrection. From our perspective we see the whole story of what God in Christ did for us through his life, death and resurrection. For the people watching the story unfold, they couldn't see the resurrection. They placed their faith in Jesus as the Messiah and it cost them. When he died and they were left alone for those few days, they thought their beleif in the Messiah cost them everything. Truly, if he had stayed dead, their belief probably would have cost them everything - maybe even their lives. But the resurrection happened. All that they thought they had lost during those few days was recovered with interested added. That isn't called a cost. That's called an investment.

For people of faith who look forward to the second coming of Jesus, we have to look at the cost of living the Christian life and recognize it as an investment. It takes faith to do that. Actually, I think we're called to live a life of faith and not sight, anyway! May God help us to see that sacrificing our creature comforts or wants in order to give more to missions isn't an expense. It is an investment. Giving our time in service to God doesn't keep us from doing what we want to do, by faith our service is an investment in what we become. Reading our Bibles doesn't prevent us from reading anything else, it is an investment in our character development. Whatever it is you perceive to be an expense in living the Chrisitan life now is really an investment in what God would have you become. If you don't believe me, live for the Lord and you'll see when Jesus comes back. If you don't believe me, then live for yourself. You'll still see when Jesus comes back. I just hope you have enough faith to see it now while you have time to make an investment!