I just read a Kay Arthur post on Facebook that said – “Anything worth having costs something”. Absolutely! I’ve always believed this and it’s lovely to see that I’m not alone. Maybe I’m just suspicious, but getting something for nothing has never made sense. It had to have cost someone something for me to ‘get mine’ but isn’t that ‘wrong’? Regardless, exactly how much value do you place on the things that cost you nothing, that are handed to you? Probably very little.
There’s always a sense of accomplishment, of satisfaction when you’ve worked hard for something and been rewarded with success. You’ve attained something as a result of your efforts that, though there may be some material increase, the true meaning was how you felt about your endeavors – it enhanced how you viewed you. And, while it cost you, the value was worth the effort. I’m sure you know these times and aren’t they more valuable?
Cost is not defined specifically because it can be emotionally, economically, your time, your resources, etc. Admittedly, though, it often is in terms of money. Webster – ” the price of something, the amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something…” However, it is also defined as – “something that is lost, damaged, or given up in order to achieve or get something.” This latter definition is the one that, to me, is the most important. When we give up (fill in the blank) in order to achieve or get something else, then the value of the new is also increased. If it doesn’t cost you anything then how much value do you give to what you received?
If you ask, how can I reconcile this view with the fact that when we accept the Lord we aren’t asked to do, to be but to come, ‘just as we are’. This is incorrect, in my thinking, because when we come, just as we are, we bring all of us. This is what we ‘pay’, what the cost is – our complete and total allegiance. Granted this is a growing awareness and surrender, but we do give all and receive so much more. The value is… priceless.
