It seems that Dave and I have always lived on a budget. Even now we make adjustments, so we know where our money is going and that we are being good stewards of what we have.
Have you ever taken time to evaluate your spending habits? Everything has a category and an amount and it should all line up each month.
This morning I was thinking about spending; groceries, vehicles, clothing, furniture, entertainment, health and extravagances. The way we assign value differs from category to category. I want to get a “good deal” on vegetables and meat and so I set an amount that I won’t go over when it comes to a pound of meat or a pound of grapes.
We shop for the best buy when it comes to our furniture and vehicles and are always looking for a super sale. Then there are those things that we will willing go into our savings to purchase; a child’s wedding or college education, medical expenses for a loved one. These require sacrifice but a sacrifice of love.
In I Corinthians, Paul repeats a phrase that he had used earlier in the book.
” God paid a high price for you,” I Corinthians 7:23 ERV
I want you to stop and think about your value this morning. Do you understand how priceless you are to the Father?
We’re not like a bunch of grapes or a bag of tomatoes that can be bought cheaply for $.99 per pound. We’re not like the new dress or new car that He waited for the big sale to purchase. We are invaluable to Him.
“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure. He hid it again and was so happy that he went and sold everything he owned and bought the field.
45 ‘Also, God’s kingdom is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 One day he found a very fine pearl. He went and sold everything he had to buy it.” Matthew 13:44-26 ERV
The earth is the world, God the Father is the man, we are the treasure, or the pearl and Jesus is the price that was paid!
What is it that would cause you to sell all you have – your home, your jewelry, your cars, your boat, your horses, your RV, cash in the CD’s and empty the savings account? What would be valuable enough to have you sell all to buy one treasure?
We are that treasure! God gave His only begotten Son to purchase us!
No words can convey what I am feeling in my heart this morning as I realize in a deeper way God’s love for me.
” And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:18-19 ERV
Father, I will take my words from the Psalms
“Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise you. 4 By my life, I will praise you. In your name, I lift my hands in prayer” Psalm 63:3-4 ERV
“God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” I Corinthians 6:20 CEV
Our heavenly Father broke the budget when He paid for our sins!
