The Privileged Life: A Costly Bargain

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.” (Isaiah 55:1-2 NKJV)

There is something quite satisfying about getting a great bargain…especially if you negotiated for it. 

And don’t you just love telling others about your deals?? I still get compliments on a Christmas blouse I bought several years ago at 90 percent off because it was an accidental leftover from previous holidays!

Sure, it’s fun to shop big box stores for sales, especially on “Black Friday” after Thanksgiving. But it’s even more fun when you find a homegrown business, run by locals, where you can haggle back and forth about prices. Lots of antique stores, yard sales, used car lots, and farmers’ markets offer opportunities to make a deal.

Bargaining must be good-natured, though. You don’t want to step over the line from being an inquiring customer to an insulting annoyance. I’ve found, particularly in antique stores, that a polite approach will open doors. Simply ask, “Is this a firm price?” This gives the seller an option to enter the bargaining process or decline without feeling pressured.

Have you ever tried bargaining with God, though? Not a good idea.

Usually this takes the form of saying, “God, if You’ll do this for me, I promise to change my ways.” Or maybe, “God, I’ll give You this if you’ll give me that.” The problem is that even when God allows us to have what we’ve demanded, we rarely uphold our end of the bargain.

So many times in Old Testament history, God gave the ancient Israelites a “covenant deal.” He offered them an abundant life, full of blessings, if they’d just keep His commandments—the fountains-of-life laws that would guard their integrity and their relationship with Him. But those foolish folks often ignored God’s commands, and He allowed them to fall into pits of their own making.

We are no different. The sins that beset them still plague us. We can plead all day long with God to bless us, but in the end, we are too weak or unwilling to follow up on what we’ve promised. And we pay the price in tears.

Praise God for His infinite love! He has never left us or forgotten us. He knows we are wicked, lazy, self-centered little people in need of a Savior. 

In fact, God loves us so very much that He strikes a new bargain. He offers us eternal life in heaven…at an unimaginable cost. But this time, we don’t have to pay. He has already covered the price by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die a horrible death in our place. 

Wait. Don’t we need to do something to pay for it? Nope. God says, “I’ve taken care of everything. It’s my free gift to you. All you need is to accept it by having faith in My Son.”

Think about it. Heaven is totally free for us. We can do nothing to earn or deserve it. So, not only do we escape the eternal consequences of our sinful failures, we receive a bountiful blessing from our Heavenly Father. His mercy and grace combined is a “double bargain” from Jesus.

What a joy to know that our future is secure in God! While we may endure earthly sorrows and sanctification, His hand holds us firmly to guide us through the shadows of death. Our only obligation is to worship Him alone, enjoy Him forever, and give Him all glory, praise, and thanksgiving.

Friend, you and I have received the very best bargain of all time. May we accept His love and live in constant praise for all of His delightful abundance. Let’s go share the news about it with everyone!

Jesus Christ, Son of God, how I adore You for your unspeakable gift. I come to You in humility—knowing I can do nothing to pay for it. All the money in the world cannot buy heaven for me. But I praise You for Your limitless, unfathomable love for me, that You would give up Your life for mine. Thank You for being my Savior and taking my place on the cross. May I never, never fail to worship You or forget Your sacrifice for me. Let my heart and words overflow with Your praises. In Your name, Amen.

Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom. 

© Copyright 2024 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #bargain #blackfriday #makeadeal #abundantlife