There is a Price
So this week is almost at a close and I’ve had this piece started since last week. Yes, I am somewhat embarrassed, but not having the time machine, I’m stuck here.
It’s a rainy, almost stormy morning and not entirely unwelcome. We are still experiencing a drought and rain is needed. It’s also cooled off a bit. Being September we are at the point on the calendar where we’re ready for that slightly cooler look.
Maybe not quite the fashion statement, but maybe so.
Of note, the ninety-six-year-old Queen Elizabeth II passed away yesterday. I was sad to see the end of an era, but that too was inevitable. She had lost her husband last year and at that extended age, it was expected.
Still, I kept rooting for her for another day, and another—
The age we are looking at now isn’t pretty. Many things have happened and we’re living in a dream which is more like a nightmare. This is a writer’s page, not a political post page, yet things happen that cause us to ponder.
And rightly so. We should ponder on good and evil, right and wrong, and even moral and immoral. And in reality that is part of our writing. We try to encourage our fellow travelers to make the right choices and live their best life.
We especially, as Christian writers, want to encourage people to believe in God and Jesus, and grab onto eternal life and salvation. And what does that have to do with politics? Or kings and queens, or everyday life?
Satan would like to have us believe that politics, kings, queens, and everyday life doesn’t have anything to do with Christianity. However, that’s not true. We are sent here to make a difference and be a difference.
“Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.
16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
We know this is true. We know we are to be salt and light and this is “Our Father’s world.” But we abdicate our authority to “the god of this world.” We allow Satan free range over everything as if we have no power.
Everything has a price. If you really want to buy something, just keep looking for the right price. It isn’t always true in every case, but in many instances it is. I gleaned that jewel of information, if I recall correctly, from Robert Kiyosaki from the Rich Dad lessons.
Everything has a price and everything has consequences. The second half of that is more true than the first half. Some of the consequences may be good and some may be a learning curve, but consequences there will be.
One of the “old wives sayings” or bits of wisdom I remember from when I was in sixth grade was “Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn no other way.”
How much are people willing to pay for pleasure? What is the end goal in life? Sometimes the question is what is your soul worth? To you and to God? Most people sell their souls far too cheap. Especially cheap when you compare what they sell their souls for and what God paid to redeem them.
Several newer words of wisdom come to mind. “You die once, but you live every day.” “Life is short; eternity is long.” Think on these things.
“Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Proverbs 27:12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.”
We can sometimes avoid paying that price for foolishness by observing how it works for others. This ties into the idea of wisdom having a price as well:
“Job 28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?”
“Proverbs 17:16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?”
