"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).