It’s Going to Cost You Either Way
Counting the Cost of Doing Something
Getting your financial situation together is going to take some work- more work for some, than others. But it doesn’t get gone on it’s on. No matter where you start, it’s going to cost you something. It takes work- a time and energy cost. You have to budget for planned expenses, figure out how to address irregular or intermitted expenses, and how to handle emergencies. It takes mental and physical work of writing, re-writing, scratching out, calculating, moving things around, prioritizing, etc.
It costs money, to take classes, buy boos, hire a consultant, coach, financial planner, or financial advisor.
It costs you in the way of sacrifice as you give up some of the things you enjoy doing, opting for short term sacrifices now to put you in a better position now and later.
It can costs your pride, reputation, relationships. People who counted on you to hang out with or foot the bill on lunch or “help out” when things got tight for them, may start to feel some kind of way about you. You may get a sense that people think you are crazy and/or have lost your God-sense and fallen into idolatry. Even if you try to tell them you are seeking to honor God in this area of your life by making more wise decisions and less foolish decision; they may not be receptive to it. You should count that (and all these costs up front) and determine whether will trust God as you forward anyway.
You Will Reap What You Sow
Not only will you see the results of the seeds you’ve planted and the small efforts you consistently make, but good relationships can be strengthened through the process. You are creating good habits that will serve your family and others as well. Somebody could see the positive changes you are making and be influenced to do the same. You may not even be aware of it. God could use you.
Counting the Cost of Doing Nothing
In you do nothing, it’s going to cost you. It takes work (time and energy) to figure out who to pay now and who you can hold off on; to make phone calls to get extensions or make payment arrangements. It costs time and energy to sit down and in front a piece of paper and write 10 different scenarios before giving up on the impossibility of getting $2200 out of $2000.
It costs you in the way of stress, anxiety, frustration—which makes it difficult to sleep, causes short temperedness, and rears its ugly head by provoking arguments with those you care about most. Or you find yourself on your knees (even if metaphorically) crying for God to fix it somehow.
It costs you money in the way of late fees, reconnect fees, bounce check, and/or overdraft fees. It costs you in the payment of interest (sometimes 10, 15, 20, 25, 28%) to use someone else’s money because you don’t have your own to use. You know they are stealing hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars from you over the course of
years, trapped in credit card and personal loan debt.
Life happens and when you don’t have a plan, you are more susceptible to falling victim to circumstances. To deal with the stress, you ease the pain of the moment with food, a pair of shoes, a cute purse, scented oils, or a mani/pedi. You know you shouldn’t but you don’t think too much about that part, but vow to figure it out later.
It costs you in the way of pride, reputation, and relationships. It’s embarrassing to have to a bill collector call your employer or a family member to track you down. I’ve been there. Your credit score is likely taking a hit because your credit score tells the story about how much debt you have and your trustworthiness in paying it back as agreed. A low credit score says you don’t make good on your payment agreements. So, when you need money for something a home purchase (a legitimate credit need since many of us aren’t in the position to buy a home in cash), now you don’t qualify. That goes on top of relationships that have been damaged or strained by borrowing money or lashing out. You can’t even pray, right.
You Reap What You Sow
Keep doing the same thing and you’ll continue in the same situation or a worse one. You can make progress and build leverage- much less glorify God, doing it your way. You have to do it His way.
It’s Going to Cost You Either Way
It’s going to cost you either way: time, energy (mental, physical, emotional), money, pride, reputation, and relationships. You can make the sacrifices now, to prayerfully create a situation that is Christ honoring or not. People may think you are crazy, think you’ve lost touch with reality, or think you are too money focused.
The Earthly Story- Conclusion:
Stay prayerful, stay in the Word seeking godly principals, and stay focuses. Godly financial stewardship is important. It’s living out Proverbs 3:5,6 by acknowledging Christ in all your ways and trusting that however He works it out is for your good.
The Greatest Cost to Consider
Luke 18 is illustrative of the cost to follow Jesus. It’s going to cost your either way.
Either, you forsake anything in your life that holds a place reserved for Christ (to include parents, children, spouse, friends, popularity, money, power, reputation, and your dreams), as being the source of your joy and contentment and know the true treasure of being in Christ.
Otherwise, start down the path (of following Jesus) and find out that He will not share His glory with anyone or anything. Try to bring them along on the journey anyway, and by His grace, have them snatched away. They have become your god and will lead to your fall. Or and reap the cost by losing your own soul.
The Spiritual Story- Conclusion:
Either way, count the cost. It’s not so much about being ashamed before other people. It’s the shame you’ll feel when you realize you can’t be the system. You didn’t consider the cost. To win this race or finish this course, you/we will need the Spirit of God and the grace of God because there will always be things vying for our hearts.
28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 33So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:28-30, 33).
