- a product “costs” us “Blank amount of dollars.”
But there is a more profound COST
- What it takes to get the money in the first place
Let’s look a place where Jesus explains the concept
Luke 14:26-33
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
What is a way for us to understand this “COST”
Cost = Time + Energy
- The greater the “COST,” the greater the investment of our TIME and our ENERGY
<Example>
Holding the door for a stranger vs. A first date
First Date vs 50th wedding anniversary
Other examples:
Work – Get money
What is the COST?
Cost = time+energy
Kids – Raise the next generation
Cost = time+energy
Friendships – not lonely
Cost = Time + Energy
The cost of following Jesus
- death to self
Let’s talk about 2 COSTS the Bible teaches are WORTH THE COST.
1: Cost of Character
What is character?
Character: The strength of moral fiber.
“As the excellence of gold is its purity and the excellence of art is its beauty, so the excellence of man is his character”
- “What you do in the dark”
- When no one is watching
- When there is no consequence
Character is the sum of our:
- disposition
- thoughts
- intentions
- desires
- actions
It is good to remember general tendencies gauge character
- Not based on a few isolated actions
- We must look at the whole life
Why is there a “COST” to character
Because character is DEVELOPED
- it’s learned
It’s through REDEEMED HEARTS
Like the refining of metals
- God REFINES OUR HEARTS
Proverbs 17:3
3 A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the Lord is the tester of hearts.
How do we DEVELOP Character?
Romans 5
5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Cost of Character is this:
- Cost = Time + Energy
Time:
- Suffering
- Affliction
- Hardships
Energy:
- Boasting in God
- trusting in God
- Not trying to fix it ourselves
The cost of Godly Character is FAITH IN SUFFERING
- We trust God when things are hard
- We do what is righteous even when it’s incredibly hard
- We are morally obligated to God’s law even when no one is looking
Paul is not the only one who teaches us this…
1 Peter 1:6-8
6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Why is this so IMPORTANT to the Christian believer?
You cannot outrun your character
- Judas
- Saul
Proverbs 10:9
The one who lives with integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.
2: Cost of Wisdom
What is Wisdom?
Wisdom:
Understanding and applying God’s moral law for the universe through right choices
Where does wisdom come from?
Proverbs 9:10-11
10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
This is the SOURCE of wisdom
- Jesus, “I am the way, the TRUST, and the life…”
- Jesus is the source of wisdom
Humanities wisdom is foolish compared to the wisdom of God
Adam and Eve – Knowledge of “GOOD AND BAD”
- Cannot be gotten outside of God
Proverbs 4:10-15,23-27
10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. 11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life. 14 Keep off the path of the wicked; don’t proceed on the way of evil ones. 15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. 25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. 26 Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. 27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.
The Cost of wisdom is choosing to give…
Time – Learning wisdom
- we are NOT born with wisdom; it is acquired
Energy – Applying it regularly in your life
- Those who learn wisdom must guard it
How do we do this?
By asking good questions
In light of my past, my current circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do?
<Examples>
- Should I go there?
- Should I date them?
- Should I spend money on this?
- Should I agree to this?
How do we get wisdom?
James 1:5
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
Character consistently chooses the right thing, and wisdom is knowing what the right thing is
- Godly Character and Wisdom are FULLY WORTH THE COST