Daily Huddle - Thu Jul 9, 2020 Cost And Benefit

Love you all, praying for you,

I just love God’s Word.  It always has insight, wisdom, and success just waiting.  Some things it says are the big ones.  Like the Ten Commandments.  But other things are instructions for success that perhaps get less attention – and yet are of considerable value.  Take for example God’s command to consider.  He says it multiple times - it’s another thing that obeyers do - they consider.  It means – to view attentively, to fix the mind on, to give careful examination.  God says we are to consider.  Consider what?  What's a part of that examination?  Cause and effect, effort and result, cost and benefit.  God said "When times are good, rejoice, when times are hard – consider."   God made one as well as the other.  That means He has a purpose for each one, and He's faithful always.  God said which of you who wants to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and consider the cost?  He said "This is what the LORD Almighty says, give careful thought to your ways."  What does it mean to consider?  To weigh, to evaluate, to stop and think of your actions and the results.  God encourages us to conduct a cost/benefit analysis in order, I believe, to draw us to Him and His good for us.  Otherwise, we just get what we get.  In life the epic question is God’s Way or man’s way - it applies to everything.  With God’s way – the benefits always outweigh the costs.  With man’s way, the costs always outweigh the benefits.  Cost is what you lose, benefit is what you gain.  When you consider the cost – God encourages it - before you purchase something… and it doesn't apply only to money.  Few things just cost money.  Before you are about to invest in something, consider the cost.  Whether time, thoughts, or money. (your attention and affection, your physical effort or preoccupation, and the opportunity cost of what you no longer have that time, money or affection for.  Most investments cost all three.  Time - it's limited, thoughts (mental and emotional energy), and money - also limited.  Whether that investment is a boat, a boyfriend, a job or career or a puppy - there may be some benefits, but there are also some costs.  If your life is your own – those investments are for you to decide.  But if your life is not your own, if you've been bought with a price, that decision is no longer yours.  It belongs to the One who who created you, saved you, designed you and has plans for your good.  Actually – for your best! That’s why God says to consider.  It means not just think about it yourself - think about it with Him.  Commit your way to the LORD - means roll down together with Him, like a pig rolls in the mud, until your thoughts become His thoughts and your ways become His ways.    Whether the man who built the tower, God said consider the cost, or God’s people, who weren’t getting anywhere in life...  Whatever they worked for, just slipped away.  Some people just don't count the cost, they don’t consider before they invest.  Others don’t realize the cost of their current investment.  Beyond the up-front cost - they don’t realize the ongoing cost of money, time, and attention… That’s why they keep going and experience the same result.  God says where your money is, there will your heart be also.  That’s why it is so important to consider the cost.  Not only of what you might buy or possess, but what you do - to invest.  What do you possess right now? and what you are doing right now?  How much money, attention, mental or emotional energy, and time is spent on it... what is this really requiring of me?  that is effort, attention, and resources no longer available for other things.  There is a famous quote that boat owners are familiar with.  The two best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.  What does that mean?  Simply that before you buy – the benefit far outweighs the cost.  But by the time you sell, the cost has outweighed the benefit.  Not saying that God will never tell you to buy a boat, but He definitely says consider the cost.  For parents, perhaps the greatest disservice to a child is to disconnect cost from benefit.  If you receive the benefit of something, without bearing the cost, it disconnects you from reality, it's blinding.  You can become the enabler of a child’s irresponsibility, or enable yourself.  Adults do it all the time.  Praying that you will know when God is nudging you to consider.  That you will never disconnect cost from benefit for either yourself or others.  That you would give careful thought to your ways.   Sometimes - it's time to consider, and sometimes a decision is required.  Your PiVAT Decision Tool can help you evaluate – it can help you consider.  Praying that you will take inventory of your current investments - of time, of thought (what has been occupying your mind recently?) and of money.   Do these belong to you or to God?  What does He want you to consider, and perhaps change in this season of your life.  Just ask Him, He will tell you - He's just waiting to reveal some things to you.  Praying that you will know the cost, and know the benefit of your current life investments.  "But some are outside of my control."  A few, perhaps, but not most.  Ask God for truth.  Be willing to consider.  PiVAT before dinner - is built-in 'consideration.'  Asking God each day for His time investments for your best good!  Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life…  And Jesus is the Word of God…  The more you are consistent in PRISM – the more His truth can bring revelation and direction to your ways.  The more faithful you are – to give an account financially with His money each day, the more you can ask Him what He wants you to do with it... and the more He reveals His purpose for it – for your good.  Not saying you have to sell the boat, quit the job, or dump the boyfriend, but God says consider...  Just ask Him to help you evaluate your investments for this season.  Are there any ongoing costs that you have become dull to?  Any opportunities where He wants to redirect you?  God says if we ask for wisdom, He will surely give it – without finding fault.  The more you know God's time, thought, money and testimony plans for you for today, the more you will apply yourself to... not necessarily what costs less, but what brings the most benefit.  No matter where you are.  God still has plans for your good!  He will show you which way to choose, the way that is best for you!  And He is always faithful to show you – the very first step. 
 
Love you all,
dad