By Matt Nichols

Recently in a lesson Brother Dave Miller asked a question that made me think. He asked “is there anything that you could do for an hour that is worth the next 50 years?” This question is one that has an obvious answer yet it is easy to simply not ask ourselves this in a moment when we are tempted. It got me thinking about how often we ask ourselves is it worth it. When we go into a store and see a new movie on the shelf we ask ourselves is the movie worth the cost of $20 or whatever they are charging for it. We may spend some time thinking about it and then finally come to a conclusion based on the cost verses our personal conceived worth of that movie. We do this so much when we are concerned with money or physical things yet how often do we in the same manner consider the cost when doing something that is sinful. We end up being spontaneous purchasers when it comes to sin. We see it, we want it, we “buy” it before really thinking about the cost.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Matthew 16:24-27

We all know this verse. Even many who never read the bible know of this verse since it is one of the most well know and used verses in the bible. The question is “are we putting this fact into use?” Are we considering this when we come to a point when we are tempted?

When we come to a trial we should stop and think is this worth it? Is what I get out of doing this worth what I will have to deal with and what I will need to pay because of it? We need to stop and think about it seriously. This is very important! We could be buying something that will make us spiritually bankrupt in the future. We could be stepping into something we may never be able to fully rid ourselves of. There are many things in this world that once you have crossed a line with you can not uncross it. It will forever be something you must deal with or something you would have to hold yourself back from. We need to be wise with what God has given us, including the opportunity to go to heaven!

All that being said, if you have bought something spur of the moment in your spiritual life in the past, don’t feel as if you can not do anything about it. You can go to God and though you may have to still pay for it here you do not have to pay for it for eternity! There is a saying in the financial world about cutting your losses. We can do that in the spiritual world as well. If you have already done something you will not be able to undue ever that doesn’t mean you have to continue to do it or continue to make it worse. There may be things you have to deal with but in the end you don’t have to pay with your soul!