Hey Everyone,
With all the talk and mindset of everyone cutting back and saving money... I was wondering--when do you all feel it's actually ok to pay full price for something? It is just acceptable that some things should be offered at a discount and some should not?
For example, one thing I've thought about a lot is that God has no problem with paying full price for something. Can you imagine what our salvation would be like if He had said, "OK, I'd like to purchase a package salvation deal, but it has to be at a 75% off sale, with a 10% discount for my Global Membership Card, 1/2 off coupon, and Frequent Walks On Water Club markdown."
Granted, God is God. He COULD have paid for our salvation with some kind of "mega deal", but He didn't, EVEN when Jesus prayed, "Please, if there's any other way..." And yet, God said, "Son, I want you to go through with this... and we're going to pay the whole price, in full, no discounts, coupons, or deals... and without a single complaint."
The reason I think about this is because, while I am all for saving money and using it wisely, I see many people being mistreated or walking all over others to try to "get ahead". I have prayed many times, "Lord, is this where we're headed? Is this your will? That everyone on earth will be 'Walmart-ized', for lack of a better term..." If God needed light bulbs in heaven, would He tell Gabriel, "All right, Gabriel... I want you to go down to Walmart and get us those light bulbs. Be sure they're on sale, at a discount, with a coupon--and if the sign is accidentally in the wrong place or someone makes a mistake, make sure you give the cashier as much of a rebuke as possible--call the manager, let everyone know about it, and make sure you get those bulbs at THE lowest price possibly, no matter how many people you have to yell at or embarrass." ..
I personally believe that this is probably why many of us, very much myself included, become quite lazy in our spiritual discipline--we are so used to getting things "at a discount", that we never want to pay full price for ANYTHING (no joke--a local clinic around here regularly advertises "Buy one procedure, get one half-off" for plastic surgery... Buy those implants you've always wanted... and get the liposuction on your hips at half the price...)
This is a minor example, but I was once at a an airport and needed supplies for my flight, and I felt like God was saying, "Buy your things here," as I came to a small stand. I did, and chatted with the cashier for a few minutes, trying to offer a friend, "Hello, how are you today?" and telling her to have a great day. I scooped up my purchases... then walked only a few stores down past another shop--one with lower prices that could have saved me a few dollars. "God," I said, "I could have saved X amount of money!!" But I felt like God was saying... it was that first cashier that needed you to talk to them and to have a good day, and that's where I wanted you to spend your money.
If God wants us to do something to get us to the next level--forgive an abuser, make peace with a neighbor or the other parent of our children, be nice to the person at work who constantly makes fun of us or spreads rumors about us, forgiving someone who cheats us (or cheats on us), taking a year-long Bible class or attending a conference... I am NOT speaking against wise stewardship, but I DO think there are times when God says only full price will do.
If God asked you to pay full price for something, would you automatically think, "Hmm... Ok... What's the minimal I can do while getting all the benefits and rewards I'm after?" In other words... "Sure, Lord, I really want that. On sale, at a discount, with a coupon." (I know that I for one am certainly guilty.)
What things are worth paying full price for? Perhaps the reason society is what it is today is because there are many times when God is saying, "Just trust me... Go ahead and pay full price and I'll make sure you have enough, whether it's money, time, energy, emotional support... I'm going to be there."
After all, God tells us that He is a God of provision. But, do we really trust Him enough to be willing to pay full price when it's required?
With all the talk and mindset of everyone cutting back and saving money... I was wondering--when do you all feel it's actually ok to pay full price for something? It is just acceptable that some things should be offered at a discount and some should not?
For example, one thing I've thought about a lot is that God has no problem with paying full price for something. Can you imagine what our salvation would be like if He had said, "OK, I'd like to purchase a package salvation deal, but it has to be at a 75% off sale, with a 10% discount for my Global Membership Card, 1/2 off coupon, and Frequent Walks On Water Club markdown."
Granted, God is God. He COULD have paid for our salvation with some kind of "mega deal", but He didn't, EVEN when Jesus prayed, "Please, if there's any other way..." And yet, God said, "Son, I want you to go through with this... and we're going to pay the whole price, in full, no discounts, coupons, or deals... and without a single complaint."
The reason I think about this is because, while I am all for saving money and using it wisely, I see many people being mistreated or walking all over others to try to "get ahead". I have prayed many times, "Lord, is this where we're headed? Is this your will? That everyone on earth will be 'Walmart-ized', for lack of a better term..." If God needed light bulbs in heaven, would He tell Gabriel, "All right, Gabriel... I want you to go down to Walmart and get us those light bulbs. Be sure they're on sale, at a discount, with a coupon--and if the sign is accidentally in the wrong place or someone makes a mistake, make sure you give the cashier as much of a rebuke as possible--call the manager, let everyone know about it, and make sure you get those bulbs at THE lowest price possibly, no matter how many people you have to yell at or embarrass." ..
I personally believe that this is probably why many of us, very much myself included, become quite lazy in our spiritual discipline--we are so used to getting things "at a discount", that we never want to pay full price for ANYTHING (no joke--a local clinic around here regularly advertises "Buy one procedure, get one half-off" for plastic surgery... Buy those implants you've always wanted... and get the liposuction on your hips at half the price...)
This is a minor example, but I was once at a an airport and needed supplies for my flight, and I felt like God was saying, "Buy your things here," as I came to a small stand. I did, and chatted with the cashier for a few minutes, trying to offer a friend, "Hello, how are you today?" and telling her to have a great day. I scooped up my purchases... then walked only a few stores down past another shop--one with lower prices that could have saved me a few dollars. "God," I said, "I could have saved X amount of money!!" But I felt like God was saying... it was that first cashier that needed you to talk to them and to have a good day, and that's where I wanted you to spend your money.
If God wants us to do something to get us to the next level--forgive an abuser, make peace with a neighbor or the other parent of our children, be nice to the person at work who constantly makes fun of us or spreads rumors about us, forgiving someone who cheats us (or cheats on us), taking a year-long Bible class or attending a conference... I am NOT speaking against wise stewardship, but I DO think there are times when God says only full price will do.
If God asked you to pay full price for something, would you automatically think, "Hmm... Ok... What's the minimal I can do while getting all the benefits and rewards I'm after?" In other words... "Sure, Lord, I really want that. On sale, at a discount, with a coupon." (I know that I for one am certainly guilty.)
What things are worth paying full price for? Perhaps the reason society is what it is today is because there are many times when God is saying, "Just trust me... Go ahead and pay full price and I'll make sure you have enough, whether it's money, time, energy, emotional support... I'm going to be there."
After all, God tells us that He is a God of provision. But, do we really trust Him enough to be willing to pay full price when it's required?
No matter how much of a discount!!
I am a bargain shopper most of the time (it's kind of a game I play), but for the things that really matter, I don't mind paying a little more. 
