count the cost or increase the value

The Bible says to us, we should always count the cost. i think too many times, we misinterpret that phrase by looking strictly at the 'cost'-what we pay. 'count the cost' actually means to weigh the price or cost against the value to you of that item. it may cost everyone the same, but if the value is more to you than others, you are getting more and willing to "pay" more. the other thing that we sometimes don't take into account is that the value can change, and usually we have the power to change it--specifically by increasing it as we invest in it or even devaluing it as we abuse it.

this may sound like a lot of babbling nonsense until you realize that i'm talking about the people we love. the 'cost' of our loved ones is sharing their burdens, hardships, troubles, and personality 'quirks'. the value is what they mean to us, what we get in return, and how we love them and need them. the cost can change as things in their lives change, but as we invest in them, the value they have to us can continually increase. we invest different amounts to different ones--hopefully, the biggest investment is going to your spouse. as their value increases, the cost begins to not matter because it will never catch up to the value they hold for you. most romantic movies show two people in love with one or both enduring a high "cost" for other, and that makes us cry at how much they love each other. that is not just a movie thing...it's achieved by increasing the value that your loved one has to you to where the cost is irrelevant.

christ put that kind of value on us...and the cost was very high, but he paid it for us because he loved us, and that is our example. "husbands, love your wives just as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25). your friendships become lasting when the value of that friend continues to increase. your marriage stays strong when the value of your spouse continues to increase--and it becomes beautiful when the cost becomes irrelevant.