Profit and Loss

Everything costs something.  For everything we gain we can expect to give up something. It is not an anomaly or even a negative, in particular, it is just the cost of exchange. Even a gift is not free as it costs the giver somethings. As the old saying goes, "There ain't no free lunch. "

The concern is not that there is a cost but how much of a cost relative to the gain. Jesus spoke of a man who sold all he had in order to purchase a single pearl that was of great worth (Matt 13:45-46).  On the other hand, there has been more than a few younger siblings that have traded a tiny little dime for five bigger pennies - their profit was not equal to their loss.

Often times an individual will spend an evening gambling and walk away saying they won a certain amount of money when, in fact, they have spent more than that amount winning it.   Some gamblers have gone as far as losing their home and family in pursuit of the elusive "Big Win!"  But even if they were to win it, would it truly be worth the price?  Would their profit outweigh their loss?

How much profit would be enough to make up for the loss of your family, your health, your integrity?  "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" (Matt 16:26).

It has been said that we spend the first half of our lives sacrificing our health to gain wealth and then spend the last half spending our wealth trying to regain our health. What we took for granted while we were young we cannot regain when we are old.  Too often we pass up making memories and maintaining relationships, which are the only two things that can last forever. in favor of accumulating wealth that must be left behind.

So tell me, if you were called on to present a P&L sheet (profit and loss) for your life, what would it show?  Are you satisfied with the exchange rate?  Will your profit be worth your loss?  Jus' Ask'n.