The High Cost of Living

 

Money. One has to have it. Young ladies about to get married need to make sure their future husband has a working plan to provide a living for the both of them. “Living on love” lasts about thirty minutes into the wedding. Then it’s time for the reception dinner. Time to eat! And one needs money to eat. It seems every time I get ready to do something, it costs me more to do anything. Fuel costs go up. Medical expenses go up. Food costs go up. Housing costs go up. It seems like there is no end to the rising cost of living. Sometimes one wonders why people don’t just throw up their hands in disgust and say, “I’m not paying these outrageous prices!” And yet despite the high cost of living, have you noticed that living is still a highly regarded activity? Money is an essential in our society for obtaining the necessities of life. Often mistakenly quoted from Scripture, money is not the root of all kinds of evil, but the love of money is (1Timothy 6:6-10). One needs money to live. We as people seek to live the very best life that we can, and the costs don’t seem to matter. We live in the best houses we can afford. We drive the best cars we can afford. We buy more shoes than we can wear out in a lifetime. We expect to receive the most aggressive and expensive medical care found anywhere in the world. We may complain about the cost over coffee, but we keep expecting and insisting on the very best.

[Luke 12:15] On the other hand, isn’t it easy to find oneself living for money? For many, life is all about that next possession – the bigger house, the newest vehicle, the latest electronic gizmo, or that must have advancement and raise at work. Jesus said to the crowd, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (NIV) One’s life is not measured by what you own! Perhaps in the eyes of some people, but not in the grand scheme of life and most importantly, not in God’s eyes. 

What if someone told you that you could have the best possible life and the costs would be minimal? You would probably call them crazy. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I have come that they (you) may have life, and that they (you) may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJ). Albert Barnes observed in his commentary, “Literally, that they (you) may have abundance, or that which abounds.” The word denotes that which is not absolutely essential to life, but which is super-added to make life happy. They (you) shall not merely have life – simple, bare existence – but shall have all those super-added things which are needful to make one’s life eminently blessed and happy. Jesus makes it possible to live an abundant life that is blessed and happy, and it costs the same as it did 2000 years ago …no cost-of-living increase.

Life is about godliness. “…Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12: 12-14). We are created and given purpose for our life by God to bring glory to God. We do that when we live noble lives, obedient to His will. Life is about doing a good job on the job, in the family, and in the church. Life is about service to others and saying no to self. Life is about laying up treasures in heaven. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). When we learn to be happy and content in the right kind of living, then we truly have something. Let go and let God control your life to find peace and happiness.