What would you do if you’d just hired 100,000 soldiers at a cost equivalent to US$ 250,000 in today’s money to help win a battle against an invading enemy, only to have a prophet warn you that relying on them rather than on God was a sure-fire way to lose?
With no chance of a refund, you’d probably ask the same question the king did: “What about all the money I’ve just spent?” If so, you would get the same answer: “God is able to give you much more than this.” (2 Chronicles 25:9)
When times are tough, which do you turn to: your own resources or God’s provision? The king saw the substantial amount of money as a life-saving investment, which, though larger, is not all that different from what we borrow in a serious situation to strengthen our financial position, thinking that the extra might well make the difference between holding on to what we have or losing the lot.
Most people give serious thought to the price they’ve paid to secure their future and what they will forfeit by trusting in God alone. I turned down an influential man’s offer to set me up with my own newspaper, having chosen God’s call to the ministry. I had two offers to go to the USA, one to study and one to write books, but I turned both down for the same reason.
I remember hearing a story about a man who built a nice country cottage in a picturesque valley. He loved the cottage and spent much time maintaining it. He also planted a beautiful surrounding garden and tended it lovingly.
One day, a man knocked on his door and made him an offer for the cottage that was just too good to refuse. The buyer admired the setting and signed a contract that guaranteed full settlement within thirty days. When the day came for him to take possession, he drove up to the gate and was amazed to see the seller putting the final touches to what obviously had been a labour of love – a whole makeover! The smell of fresh paint mingled with the fragrance of the rose bushes that lined the path to the cottage door.
Seeing the new owner, the seller turned off the hose he was using to clean the path and greeted him with a huge smile. Noticing a stunned look on the new owner’s face, he said. “I love this cottage so much, I wanted to make sure that I handed it over to you looking its very best!”
Much to his surprise, however, the new owner just stood there silently, looking embarrassed. So he added, “I know that I didn’t have to spend the money on it, but I wanted to hand it over knowing you’d have no need to improve it. I can now hand it over, looking its very best!”
The buyer turned to the seller, an expression of pain on his face.
“I’m sorry, but I bought the cottage because of where it stands. I have no intention of living in it. You see, I am a multi-millionaire, and I have plans to demolish it and to build in its place a mansion worthy of this wonderful setting.”
“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
God has much more in mind for you than you could think. His plan for your life is much better than yours. The choice you face is the same one I faced: “Will I rely on how much it has cost me to get to where I am, or to keep it, or will I rely on God’s provision for me in Christ? In Romans chapter 5, the apostle Paul uses the words “much more” five times to contrast the human condition with God’s wonderful provision for us in His Son.
The multi-millionaire buyer, faced with a made-over but inadequate cottage, asked, “Why would I want to live in a cottage when I can live in a mansion?” At this point, God might well be asking you a similar question about your own future plan. Is it to live with the best you have and pay however much it takes to keep it? Or will you accept God’s offer to you of salvation through His Son?
I accepted His offer a lifetime ago, and am so glad that I did! I’ve no regrets! None whatever. I sincerely hope that you will say yes to God’s offer to you of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ! I wish you only the best in this life and beyond.
A missionary once wrote: “It is a wise man who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” In my case, the choice was either the cottage or the mansion (so to speak) — and I chose well. May God help you to do the same.