THE PRICE
“Are You Looking For A Bargain, Or Looking For The Truth?”
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
INTRODUCTION:
Everything comes with a price. We often judge what we will buy as we look at the price range. Some things we can’t pass up. The price is just too good. Other things we pass over. The price is outrageous.
I. PRICE RANGES
A. Throughout Society
1. Neighborhoods are designed by price ranges.
a. In a trailer park, you get a metal pipe for a mailbox post.
b. In a suburban neighborhood, you get a 4 x 4 post for your mailbox.
c. I noticed when going to a neighborhood garage sale, when you live in a
$250,000 neighborhood you get a railroad-crosstie (6 x 6 or 8 x 8).
2. Stores are designed by price ranges. They often target certain income families.
a. Thrift stores, Goodwill stores, and Value City à For those who have limited
incomes or who are just looking for a bargain.
b. WalMart fits the middle spectrum. This is probably the most populous
segment of society. This is why they are so popular.
c. Lazarus caters to the middle to upper class. We walk in looking for sale, but
seldom buy. Why? The price tag is so high. Even if we had the money,
the common man will feel the price is just too high.
3. Automobiles
a. Economy
b. Family
c. Luxury
d. Extravagant
B. Prices Can Be Inflated
1. It’s more prestigious to wear or speak of a certain brand or price range.
2. However, you often get what you pay for. When you pay an irregular price, you
get an irregular product. Ex: Odd Sizes, Short Arm/Leg Length, Missed Seam
II. LOOKING FOR BARGAINS
A. True Bargains
1. True bargains can be found. I don’t deny that.
2. There are times when it is just a bargain to pay the full price. In doing so, we get the
full service from the product or person.
There are sometimes true bargains, but often times stores have something up their sleave.
That car that was in the newspaper is never on the lot, but “we have one in almost the
same price range. The differences are so small, you will never notice. It will only add
a few dollars on the payment each month.” The months add up to $100’s or $1000’s.
B. Rip-offs
1. We find out sometimes that you can wear out two or three of those so-called bargains
while the name brand product is still going strong.
2. You end up with a product that is outdated. EX: Buying computers for $20 that
aren’t worth a nickel because the programs have changed.
3. When you pay a lemon price, you often get a lemon. It will leave you stranded
on the side of the road.
What makes us think we can get something for nothing? This is one of the immoral
things about gambling. You want to make money without making an effort to work.
It’s waiting for your “boat to come in” when you sent nothing to sea. It could just
be plain laziness.
III. SPIRITUAL BARGAINS?
A. Applying False Principles
1. You cannot always take the natural and apply it to the spiritual.
2. What makes us think we can apply these principles to spirituality?
3. Even after we know that you get what you pay for, we try to get a bargain
when it comes to a relationship with God.
4. We want to defy the principle of sowing and reaping.
B. No Exceptions
1. In the spiritual, you get what you pay for. You reap what you sow.
Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap. 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
2. Don’t confuse the gift of salvation with this discussion. Salvation is free.
However, a relationship with God will cost you something. A ministry
in the will of God will cost you something.
IV. THE PRICE
A. The Good News
1. The cost is within everyone’s price range. All can afford it.
2. How can this be? Everyone has what it requires to have a relationship with
God . . . time, talent, and effort. There are 24 hours in everyone’s day.
We choose how to spend them.
B. God Sets The Price
1. It doesn’t require a certain amount of time, talent, or ability. Often it has to do
with availability.
2. God knows your talent structure, He gave it to you. He is just looking for those
who will give it back to Him in genuine, worshipful, service to the Kingdom
of God.
Matthew 25:14 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who
called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 25:15 And unto one
he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to
his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”
C. The Price Differs
Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
1. Because of talent distribution and calling, the price is not the same to everyone.
a. He calls some to serve internationally à foreign missionaries, etc.
b. He calls some to serve nationally à Gospel groups, Evangelists
c. He calls some to serve locally à Pastors and lay members
2. Two possibilities.
It seems some are called to die while others are called to dine. In other words,
we see some that pay a great price while others do what seems minimal service.
Two possibilities exist:
a. Failure by some to pay the price. Maybe looking for a spiritual bargain, or
even a spiritual sweepstakes or lottery.
b. Failure by some to understand the differences between callings.
3. When Wills Conflict
a. God sets standards.
(1) God determines the price that each individual must pay for
a relationship with Him.
(2) God has determined specifics for individuals.
b. Men set standards. These standards should be:
(1) In accordance to God’s Word.
(2) In general. Standards that should apply to all.
c. Conflict occurs when the standard of man is too far-reaching or selfish.
d. Harmony occurs when leaders understand that the individual has a personal
responsibility to God and a personal walk with God. He or she must
know when God is leading.
D. God Uses People
1. God uses some people where He finds them. They are used to reach people in circles
that no one else may be able to penetrate. This is probably the most common.
2. God calls some people out from where He finds them. He moves them from place to
place, or class to class, or blue-collar to white-collar, or profession to profession.
He does this to penetrate circles in which no else is currently ministering or where
current ministers need special help and encouragement.
Ex: Abraham called from the land Ur of Chaldees
Genesis 12:1 “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”
V. DON’T FORGET
A. When applying these principles in this discussion: *It is important to keep in mind the
providence of God. God says, “I will bless whom I will bless. I will curse whom I will
curse.”
B. Opening and Closing
Revelation 3:8 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no
man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not
denied my name.”
Though this Scripture is specific spoken to a specific group at a specific time, I think it is easy to establish the omnipotence of God.
CONCLUSION
After salvation, you are called to pay a price. Again, to each individual, it is different. No man can determine another’s price. God does. Are you looking for a bargain? Maybe it’s just a cheap way out.
Matthew 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
You are called to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
This will require a great sacrifice, a great price, on your part. When it comes to your spiritual life, don’t go looking for a bargain. You get what you pay for. When you pay an irregular price, you get an irregular product.
For the sinner, Jesus paid a great price so that you might have salvation. Do you know Him as Savior? Don’t let such a bargain go to waste. If you do, in the end, you must pay the debt of sin. It will take eternity to settle up.
