Yes Means No

When we choose to say "yes" to something we are also choosing to say "no" to something else. The truth is our resources are limited: time, money, energy, relationships, mental capacity, and connectivity. If we buy a new car and make payments, we are declining to use that money in other areas. If we decide to get up early to exercise each morning, we are giving up the option of sleeping in. If we decide to play golf after work three days a week, we are forfeiting the opportunity to spend time with our kids.

Regardless of what popular culture might tell us, we can't have it all. We've got to decide what we want (and need) the most and choose accordingly.

Deflated Character

The current sports headline dominating the news is over the allegedly deflated footballs used by the New England Patriots in last weekend's AFC championship game. It seems to be all that the sports world is talking about as they try to determine who is at fault and whether or not the Patriots bent the rules for their own gain. Blame is flying around and journalism experts are picking apart the evidence to figure out what is going to happen next.

I understand something like this is going to make some noise, but the final score in the game was 45-7. I seriously doubt the amount of air in the footballs made a significant difference. It's fairly obvious the Patriots were the best team on the field regardless of any supposed attempts to create a competitive advantage.

This really isn't about the footballs though, but about the character of those involved. It speaks more to the integrity of a group of people and their willingness to abandon principle for the sake of success. Choosing to cheat in a small way isn't different from cheating on a larger scale. They both reveal flaws of character and a desire to cast aside integrity for personal benefit.

It Costs

We took our new puppy to the vet today for a checkup and yearly shots as part of his ongoing care. I knew we would spend some money on the visit, but was not expecting the final tally of $200. My wife texted me to give the warning on the final bill before I got home. Even though it was more than I was expecting to spend today we both came to the same conclusion: our Moses is worth it.

The things that matter most to us will come with a price tag: money, energy, humility, patience, sweat, tears, and sometimes even blood. The cost might seem steep at first, but when it brings something of great value we are good with the trade-off.

Evaluate the Cost

To be successful at things that are important to you, sacrifices will have to be made. Losing weight

won't happen without a sacrifice in eating habits and time spent in exercise. Career advancement requires giving up personal time to focus on education and networking. Intentional family time decreases time invested in personal hobbies and at work. Saving for a new car will eliminate regular  disposable monthly income and impulse spending. Each important goal will have a corresponding cost that must be paid to see fulfillment.

Anything that we do of value will draw energy, focus, and resources from something else to be accomplished successfully. Before undertaking this endeavor be prepared for the cost that comes with it. It's incredibly discouraging to discover the unexpected high price of growth halfway through and even more deflating to find out you aren't willing to pay it.

Comparison Shopping

When we make an inexpensive, impulse buy at a store we make a quick judgment in our mind that it isn't a big deal because the item was cheap and easy to purchase. If we were going to buy a flat screen TV however, we would probably search for the best possible deal, make sure that it had all of the features that we need, and even then may choose not to purchase it. We are putting into practice the principle of assigning value.

At some point in our lives we put a value on spiritual things. We will have to determine whether we want to stay in a small comfort zone or step into the wild journey of following Christ. A decision will have to made about our lifestyle and maintaining it as it is, or whether we will exchange it for God's way of life. We will have to choose either the pleasures of God's Kingdom or the pleasures of sin.

We make these decisions as we determine the cost of declaring allegiance to the King. It is a continual, daily process of assigning value that requires us to actively choose who we will follow.

Love Costs Everything

God-given and empowered love costs everything. It costs us:

our faith

our time

our prejudices

our future

our vision

our finances

our present

our agenda

our preferences

our bitterness

our unforgiveness

our sin

our pride

our past

our ambition

our reputation

our family

our heart, mind, soul and strength.

When you're committed to the King, it's worth it.

Costly Leadership

In 2 Chronicles 35, King Josiah has expended great effort in restoring God's temple, reading the Law and re-instituting sacrifices to God. In verse 7 of that chapter it says, "Josiah provided for all the lay people who were there a total of thirty thousand lambs and goats for the Passover offerings, and also three thousand cattle—all from the king's own possessions." 

As I read that passage this morning, the thought was reinforced to me that true godly leaders must be ready to make personal sacrifices. The obvious (and yet not practiced enough) sacrifice of finances speaks volumes about the condition of the heart of a leader. There are other areas of cost as well: personal ambition, sleep, apathy, personal time, popularity, energy, focus and prayer.

The question for all Christ-followers is the same: are we willing to count the cost of following (and leading) and then obediently pay it? When leaders are eager to do that we will start to see a movement in God's church that cannot be stopped, but will certainly continue to be replicated.