PAY THE PRICE

PAY THE PRICE

Nothing is free in life except the gift of life in Christ. There is no free lunch anywhere. For every gain, there is always a measure of pain that precedes its realization. No pain, no gain! For every prize a winner takes, there is always a corresponding price to pay. There are conditions to meet, costs to bear, requirements and qualifications that must be satisfied in winning any great prize. Similarly, the race to destiny fulfilment is not without its associated price to pay. Nothing comes cheap that is truly fulfilling and satisfying. The price paid or that one is willing to pay for something is usually an indication of the value attached to that thing by the seller and buyer. Everyone looking forward to a glorious future must be ready to pay a high price for that future today. A future one is not ready to stake the required price upon now will be a sheer illusion that will, no doubt, be ultimately distasteful. It means that the future is not with conviction to such a person and he cannot see it as holding true. Otherwise he would have heeded the counsel of the word of God.

“Buy the truth and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” – Proverbs 23:23

The price of a thing is not just the monetary value placed on it. In fact, the price to pay for something may not be monetary at all. Jacob worked seven years twice, as the price he paid to marry Rachel whom he loved. In fact, the scripture in Isaiah 55:1 clearly says people “who have no, money come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine milk and without money and without price”. Price goes far beyond the monetary value placed on a thing. The price of your dream or goal achievement entails all the efforts, energy, sacrifice and resources committed to or required for the realization of that goal or dream. It also includes both physical and spiritual exertion of self in this regard. Interestingly, the price paid also incorporates the things that you give up or have to give up for the attainment of a goal or dream. In other words, this concept includes what the economist calls the opportunity cost of a good or thing, and much more.

What you are willing to have, you must be willing to pay the price. You cannot realize your goal or dream in life unless you are ready to commit all it takes to have it. This may include discipline, diligence, determination, self-development, self-denial, physical pains in form of suffering, persecution, hard work and perceived danger that may be unavoidable but must be risked. These are apart from the financial costs.

The law of sacrifice also plays a key part in this regard. If you do not sow, you will not reap, and what you reap is always proportional to your sowing. So if you pay a great price, it means your sowing is great and you can expect that your harvest will also be great. Jesus paid such a great price that no one could pay and He got a harvest nobody else could ever get. He left all His glory in the heavenly places and took the pain to die a shameful gruesome death, even the death on the cross, so that He could gain the world to Himself through the church He founded. Life’s goal attainment or dream’s fulfilment is a lifetime journey which gets redefined and is given real meaning when you become born again. It involves eliciting the cooperation of others and this you can do by your personal approach to the handling of your relationship with other people. We are to lead by example through service.

You are expected to start doing what you want people to do that they may, by your example, learn or be motivated to do. That is what Jesus taught and demonstrated by His own life and ministry. He showed that godly leadership is not in lordship but in servant- hood. Jesus Christ showed clearly that a glorious life attainment is not in living our lives to profit ourselves alone but in investing our lives to make other people’s lives glorious and great. That was what Jesus did. He sacrificed Himself. He laid down His life that we should not die but live. He became poor that we might be rich. He went to hell to conquer death and the devil for our sake that both should not continue to have power to kill and draw us to hell at will. He defeated death so that we could be liberated from the fear of death, and embrace life fully, following His example. It was a life of total sacrifice in service to accomplish glorious, heavenly expectations. We are to do likewise.

The one who seriously desires to achieve certain life’s dreams must be ready to sacrifice. He must be ready to persist in the face of great, trying challenges which may be patently adverse and quite intimidating. There is no turning back or throwing in the towel if you really want to win.

Remember Lot’s wife. It is a whole life journey or process one should not withdraw from. This takes faith, dogged commitment, determination and courage. You cannot afford to fail or withdraw from the race. Just a little more effort and taking that extra (often greatly trying) little step and you would be surprised to see your dream or destination suddenly manifesting or bursting on sight.

Paying the price to attain a goal or accomplish a dream is not always pleasant or convenient. No! It is rather always painful and quite tasking, especially if the dream is loaded and set for real greatness. Great effort is always demanded by great dreams, including the stake of time, resources, great exertion of self and unavoidable trade-off of personal pleasure, leisure and freedom at the present. This is for one’s growth and development in order to prepare and position one for the time of fulfilment and arrival at the very destination envisioned.

This, indeed, to the wise, is not time, efforts or resources wastefully expended even though there may not be obvious gain or profit now. Wisdom demands that you sow if you will lawfully expect a harvest. It is the period of investing so as to reap profitable returns in a determinable future time.

High-return investments usually present high risks. Only the wise and the courageous discerningly take such risks and look back later with rejoicing, that they have taken the action when they did. Sowing entails painful hard work and usually a very trying period of waiting before the harvest eventually comes, but the joy of a good harvest normally dwarfs and obliterates all the painful experiences associated with sowing. The Psalmist aptly describes these experiences:

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” – Psalms 126:5-6

Invest your time, life, abilities, gifts and treasures wisely and build up your capacity for a great harvest, no matter the price! It is certain that the great pains and sacrifice of the moment cannot be compared with the joy that comes with dreams realization or great goal accomplishment.

The Lord, Jesus Christ has shown us the way and the scripture so clearly declares it.

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

Apostle Paul vividly captured this truth by the Holy Spirit.

“For | consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” -Romans 8:18

Kingdom investment is always very profitable, though quite demanding. Its returns are far more enduring and greater than what worldly investments can give. Yes! It is sowing in very rich soil that is well watered and nurtured by the Lord. Can you imagine the type of hope and assurance the Lord gave to us His disciples when Peter asked Him what would be the gain of those who have left their homes, families, businesses and other endeavours to follow Him? Marvellous!

“So Jesus answered and said, ‘assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions and in the age to come, eternal life.” – Mark 10:29-30

Why would you not therefore give it all it requires to fulfil that God-given vision and glorious dream of yours in Christ, depending and relying on Him? Set your eyes off earthly considerations that are ephemeral. Be focused! Take the pain for the gain now! Set aside personal pleasure, fleshly immediate gain, gratification, people’s affirmation, applause, praise and honour by men for that which is long- lasting – the accomplishment of your glorious vision with heavenly honours and reward.

Toyin Olugbemi

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