"Cost" and "Worth" in Decison Making

Sometimes we have to make decisions that the bible does not touch upon? For example, the bible does not deal with the issues of what kind of car to buy. It does not deal with issues of what kind of health insurance to purchase – HMSA or Kaiser (HMO). It does not deal with whom you should marry, just that Christians should marry Christians. It does not deal with the types of foods to eat. In the Old Testament there were dietary restrictions, but those restrictions to not apply to the church today.

So you get my drift? There are many things we decide to do or not to do that the bible does not actually touch upon.

This is where “cost” and “worth” may be a helpful thing to think through. What is the cost of something versus its worth? Although the two may seem closely similar, yet keeping a clear distinction would be wise.

For example, the cost of something would be the price I would have to pay for it. The worth of the item I bought would be its value to me in the long run.

Buying a home is very costly, but the worth of owning a home is more beneficial to the cost.

Let me suggest this: On one level, when the “worth” of something outweighs the “cost,” it is a positive and perhaps a moral thing to consider to do. On another level, when the “cost” outweighs the “worth,” then it would most likely be a negative and immoral thing to do.

So the issue is this: On a pendulum, which side is the heaviest – cost or worth? Knowing this will greatly help me to decide on what to do.

Example: Buying a home is surely “costly,” but the “worth” of owning a home outweighs the cost. Having a handicap child would be surely “costly,” but the “worth” of raising such a child would surely outweigh the cost. Taking care of a parent who has Alzheimer would be “costly,” but its “worth” would outweigh the cost. See my point? If the “worth” outweighs the “cost,” then it would most likely be something moral to do.

But on the negative side, if the “cost” outweighs the “worth,” consider not doing it. Eating a ninety-nine cent whopper regularly would be of worth, but the affects it will do to one’s health would be more “costly.” Buying cheap cigarettes may be worth it, but the cost involved to one’s lungs would outweigh the worth. Having an affair may seem “worth” it, but if you get caught, the cost would outweigh the worth. Stealing money may seem at the time “worth” it, but the “cost” of getting caught would outweigh the worth.

Again, when “worth” outweighs the “cost,” that’s positive; when the “cost” outweighs the “worth,” that’s negative.

So the next time you are in a position of making a decision, whether a major or not so major one, ask yourself, “What does the bible say?” And if the bible does not specifically touch upon your decision, then ask yourself, “What is the cost to me and how much would it be worth to me?” If the decision you are planning on making costs more than it is worth, consider not doing it. If the worth is greater than the cost, then you may be heading in the right direction.

Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule. But at least by doing this, you will be doing your own thinking, then you can bounce things off of trusted friends to get their take on it as well (Prov. 11:14).

Paying The Price

I am a Steven Seagal fan. I love his movies. He is not the best actor, but those who watch his films a lot like I do, know that good acting is not what to expect. It’s those fighting scenes. It’s that tough guy image.

One particular movie I watched last week had Steven sitting down with a detective and she asked him, “So you think you’re a tough guy?” His response captured my attention. He said, “Everyone wants to be a tough guy, but no one wants to pay the price.”

In a typical Seagal fashion, words of wisdom poured out. Think about it. We all want to excel in some way, but how much are we willing to pay the price to get there? People who buy what they want on credit and get themselves deep in debt, find themselves in bondage because they were not willing to pay the price. People who rush into relationships without waiting and working on their own inner weaknesses and qualities quickly get a divorce because they were not willing to pay the price.

We all want to be something special, do something significant, say something important, and buy something of worth, but are we willing to pay the price for it?

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Smell the Fertilizer

“Bad people make good soil – there’s a lot of fertilizer in their lives”

When Jesus sent His disciples into the harvest field, He told them to go to the place where the soil was the richest – “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6).

In other words, go where the sins are the greatest. Go where the sinners abound.

Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised, if Jesus were to show up again in the flesh, to see Him sitting with people in bars and hanging out with those who have HIV. In His own words, Jesus said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

Back in Jesus’ time, the Samaritans were the worse. They were hated by the Jews for being half-breeds – part Jewish and part Gentile. The average Jew stayed clear from them and their city. But one day while traveling, we read this about Jesus, “He had to pass through Samaria” (John 4:4). Why? Because bad people make good soil – there’s a lot of fertilizer in their lives.”

Don’t plant seeds of life where it can’t grow. You will be wasting your time trying to deliver those who think of themselves as righteous. Plant seeds where there is a lot of smelly fertilizer. Look for the flies. Look for the bugs. Look for the ants. Your seeds will grow there – never forget that.

No Turning Back

“When you delay your battles, you also delay your rewards.”

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He was destined to face His enemy. This is what the bible says:

“He was LED up by the Spirit of God into the Wilderness to be tempted by the devil” – Matt. 4:1

“And immediately the Spirit IMPELLED Him to go into the Wilderness” – Mark 1:12

“And Jesus full of the Holy Spirit. . .was LED by the Spirit into the Wilderness” – Luke 4:1

The devil did not try to find Jesus, rather Jesus took the initiative and faced His enemy head on.

When we are faced with a fearful thought or a fearful decision, we often choose to go the route of avoidance. Many of us would see the Wilderness as a place to avoid, but Jesus saw it as a means to an end. Jesus knew that by avoiding the Wilderness, He would also forfeit any rewards from the Father.

Furthermore, Jesus’ battle with the devil helped to prepare Him for the ministry and His life of service. A bible college education can be helpful; a seminary education can prove to be fruitful; but nothing, I mean NOTHING can ever prepare us more for the assignments God has in store for each of us than the personal battles we all must face.

Still Standing

Why do we struggle so much? I guess we can think of many reasons why. But how about this:

"A Struggle is the proof that you have not yet been conquered."

Just by the very fact that you are struggling with something is proof enough that you have not given up or have become an unconditional slave to what is bothering you. If you and I had no struggles, we would both be slaves and people who have been conquered.

Therefore, if you are struggling with something, it means you are winning.

Don't give up now.