2Samuel 24:24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

It does not matter where you go or what you do. The fact is, everything has a cost and will eventually require payment from our lives. Whether we are acquiring substances for our daily needs or the purchase of goods and services, everything costs us time, money, and energy. Somewhere and somehow, we will pay the price of life. There is a full supply of what we need on earth, but the energy and willpower to take possession of it and retain what we are after will cost us. Even a criminal knows there is a cost to crime when the criminal ends up in jail. They pay for their lives with time served and labour performed until the social debt is paid for. Matt. 18:34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. If you own a home, there are costs to maintain it and keep it sound and structurally safe. If you own a vehicle, there are a variety of costs that come with owning that vehicle. If you run or walk, the soles of your shoes will eventually need replacing, and there will need to pay for another pair. Yes, everything in life costs us something.

There is a saying among Christians that rings true. “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost your life.” Jesus indicated that we need to count the cost of our decision if we are to follow Him. Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first, having sat down, count the cost, whether he has enough for its completion? Even though there is an eternal blessing in accepting Jesus as our Lord, the choice to follow Him can cost us friends, family members, and even employment. The Lord said that if the world hated Him, they would hate His followers as well, and there would be an emotional levy to serving the Lord. In some parts of the world, the price of following Jesus is their lives or the lives of their loved ones. Heb. 11:37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

Anyone who has served the Lord has felt the emotional weight and cost when a spouse mentions that God is getting more attention than they are. When the minister’s children say that other fathers are better to their children because they get to go and do other things that are not ministry-related. There is a toll to making sure that, as Christians, we are not involved with the workings of evil. 1Thes. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. The Missionary who has lost their spouse, child, or health while taking care of God’s business on the mission field can become overwhelmed by the tally of sacrificial submissions Jesus is asking of them. Living in the presence of the Lord will cost our flesh dearly.

We must understand that when Jesus asks us to walk with Him, our lives now belong to Him. We are obliged within our souls to hand over the total value we have placed upon our lives and be willing to fulfil the call God has placed upon us. 2Sam. 24:24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David understood that personal sacrifice was going to be needed when serving and walking with the Lord. Even a sacrifice of praise has a tariff connected to it. The simple fact is that if it is a sacrifice of praise, then the praise comes from a place of difficulty within our hearts. Keeping our word to God often requires a sacrifice on our part, which will extract a choice of will.

The Lord understands the dedication of heart and the total cost we feel when handing our lives over to His Lordship. This is why He gives us His grace to be able to do it. Jesus submitted every part of His life to His Heavenly Father. This same grace and anointing reside within each one of us, but as David expressed when sacrificing to the Lord, we have to want to pay that significant price. Christ is faithful and will always keep His word toward us, even if we break our vows and promises made to Him. 2Tim. 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He is not able to deny Himself. It is this faithfulness that Jesus has toward us that gives us the strength to rise and give ourselves over to His will.

Sin cost Jesus everything. We owed a debt we could not pay. The eternal price for our souls to be made whole again could not have been bought by anyone except Jesus. The Lord paid for our sins in full, and the cost of our sins was placed upon the Son of God as He was nailed to the cross of pain and torture. Historically and to this day, sin has cost all humanity countless amounts of pain and suffering that could never be paid for within a billion lifetimes. Our souls were bought with the loving grace and gift of God’s goodness that was lavished on us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Jesus counted the cost and paid it. Let us enjoy the blessing of being redeemed by what Jesus did for us. Yes, everything costs, but our redeemer lives, and we have been made free because of His love.