Everything has a Cost (To plant or not to plant)

Since January of this year, I have lost twenty pounds.  I feel better, have more energy, and like not having to squeeze into some of my pants.  But the weight loss has come at a cost.  I've given up money to pay for the use of a pool, I've purchased a swimsuit, I've sacrificed time to workout, I've said "no" to many food and drink items that I crave, and I'm going to be paying to have my belt shortened since the last hole now leaves the belt too loose.  The weight loss has been worth these costs, but there has been a cost nonetheless.

However, if I had chosen NOT to lose the weight, there would also be a cost.  I probably wouldn't be as content with my body.  I probably would be more self-conscious.  I probably wouldn't have the same energy level I currently do.  And I'd probably feel a small bit of embarrassment of not having the self-discipline to care for the only body God has given me.

Whether you realize it or not, EVERY decision has a cost:

• To ask the girl out has a cost - your emotional being is suddenly vulnerable.
• But to NOT ask the girl out also has a cost - you have no chance of getting a date!
• To stay up late finishing a gripping book has a cost - loss of sleep & lack of energy the next day.
• But to NOT finish the book has a cost - the suspense keeps you from getting to sleep and you sacrifice time later to complete the book.
• To watch TV comes with a cost - the time, the cable bill, the "a-muse"ment ("a" = "without" / "muse"=thought) which usually happens when the tube is on
• But to NOT watch the TV has a cost - you can't talk about the latest episode around the water cooler, and you have to find out the score of the game some other way.

I could go on.  There is a cost to pre-marital sex and a cost to abstaining.  There is a cost to drinking and a cost to not drink.  There is a cost to owning a home and a cost to renting.  There is a cost to speeding and a cost for not speeding.  There is a cost to mowing your lawn and a cost to ignore your yard.  There is a cost to everything.

This truth has hit me more powerfully these past few days concerning our adventure into church planting.  There is an enormous cost for my family - leaving an amazing staff, leaving a wonderful church family, leaving a reliable income, leaving great children's and youth ministries which have blessed my children, leaving a great neighborhood and great schools, and on and on the list goes.

But to NOT plant a church - to not obey God - to not go to Kansas City to be trained  - this also has a cost.  I would have to live with the "what if".  I would look back on my life with regret for not obeying.  And worst of all, I would risk losing the sweetness of hearing the inaudible voice of God and His Holy Spirit promptings.  While we are losing a TON by leaving New Covenant, I think I would be losing so much more if I didn't surrender my life to God in this area.  And that's a cost I'm just not willing to pay.

So how about you?  Every decision you make tomorrow will come with a cost.  Which costs are you willing to pay?

Posted via email from erin bird's web nest