Sometimes it’s difficult to see the value of something right in front of us. Many people spend enormous amounts of time calculating what will be valuable in the future, so that they can buy it while it is cheap, and prepare to sell it when it gains value. People make millions in the stock and bond markets. Everyone, it seems, is out to make a quick buck.
Assistant camp director Eric Burns began his Bible study Friday night, July 18, with a bread analogy. You walk into a store, and see a loaf of bread. It is $2. Your purchase of that bread means that you accept it has a value of $2. The literal price of the bread doesn’t really matter; what matters is the amount you are willing to pay. You may see the same loaf of bread in a store for $50. Chances are you would not buy it because you don’t agree that the bread is worth $50. Now let’s say there were a drought that destroyed all the wheat—now a loaf of bread is priced at $1,000. Its value is worth that because someone is willing to pay it.
“I want to talk to you about the value you have in front of you, and I want you to think of it in these kinds of terms,” Mr. Burns said. He then turned to 2 Peter 1:3-4: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
God wants to give us His divine nature—His Holy Spirit—something exceedingly great and precious! The job of you unbaptized campers is to find the value of it. How precious is it, to you? How much do you believe God when He calls it an “exceeding great and precious” promise?
Mr. Burns went on to explain four different cost-benefit models:
1. Low value, high cost
These are items that we typically steer away from. If we don’t think they have much value, we are not going to spend a lot of money on them.
2. Low value, low cost
These are items that we don’t need, or consider having much value—but they also have a low cost, so we might consider purchasing them. There isn’t much to lose.
3. High value, low cost
This is what we all want! These are the sale items—the bargains! We are likely to make a quick purchase of items such as these.
4. High value, high cost
This is the tough one. We can see that the item has a high value, but are not sure if we want to pay the high cost for it. This one causes the most buyer’s remorse for making the wrong decision.
Mr. Burns focused on the fourth model for the rest of the Bible study. This model is what God places in front of us. It is of incredibly high value, but comes with an incredible cost: your life! Are you willing to pay that price? Is it worth your investment?
Matthew 13:45-46 talk about the merchant who found a pearl of great price and sold all that he had in order to buy it. He saw the high value, and was willing to pay the high cost. Of course, this pearl represents the Kingdom of God. What is the value that we put on the Kingdom of God? You set the value by whatever you are willing to pay. And it can be so easy to reduce that value, even after being baptized. It is an attitude that all of us need to keep in check.
God Himself considers cost-benefit analysis. He put an immensely high value on having a family, but knew it would come with an incredibly high cost—the life of the Son of God! (John 3:16). Failure meant God would be the only remaining being in the God Family. That is the highest cost-benefit analysis ever!
As Preaching Elder Ryan Malone described last week in his Bible study, there are two ways to go. One is the wide and easy way of this world, and one is the straight and narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). The first is of low value and low cost; the second is of extremely high value and high cost! Which way will you dedicate your life toward? This is such a special calling—not many people today even get the option of going after the high value, high cost way!
It is especially important for parents, Mr. Burns said, to instill a real value for this way of life, and for the Holy Spirit, into their young people. As Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in a Jan. 15, 1984, letter while visiting s.e.p. campsites in New Zealand and Australia, “Words simply cannot describe the importance of these summer camps. These hundreds of young people will be adults being married and having children in just one decade. They will be leaders in the World Tomorrow. Their lives are being changed ….
“God’s tithe money, which you pay, brethren, goes primarily for preaching and teaching the gospel. Of all those we can reach, these youths of those already in the Church are by far the most important. I feel you never realized that before. Not only are these summer camps of such supreme importance but also our program of working with you parents so you may come closer to your children. As God’s apostle, I call on you, brethren, to have a closer relationship with your children. That is only one of the things we have yet to accomplish before the end of this world. But it may be even the most important!”
This way of life carries a great cost. It costs tremendous effort and has cost many their lives. It cost Jesus Christ His life. He asked if there was some way to “let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). He had to pay a tremendous cost, but He was prepared to pay it if that was what the Father wanted from Him. This family vision got Him through everything. Look at what God has done for us—what Christ went through. Can we understand how deeply God yearns for family? There is no way we could make it beyond this life without the power of God. God’s actions prove He loves you. Doesn’t He have a right to ask us to endure that? Didn’t He pay a great price?
Mr. Burns referenced 1 Corinthians 2:9-14, discussing the necessity of the Holy Spirit God makes available to us to understand spiritual matters. Because of this Spirit, we can have access to spiritual things (verse 12). How much do baptized members appreciate it? How much desire do parents instill into their children for it?
The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, Volume 1, describes the major turning point in Mr. Armstrong’s life at the age of 16—when the “spark of ambition” was ignited. His manager told him that he could see a great deal of potential in the young Mr. Armstrong, and this praise was enough to inspire him to drive toward physical success in life. So many young people today, Mr. Burns pointed out, lack drive for anything. They are just “plugged in,” comatose to what is happening around them. We have to be different. We have a calling of a greater value. And parents should strive to help their youth see that value. We want our young people to know there are people out there who want to help them get there. Our lighting the spark could be the turning point they need.
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” (Proverbs 22:29). That’s a high place of honor. If we are diligent in this calling, if we diligently seek after the Kingdom, if we employ drive and effort, we shall not only stand before kings, we will be kings!
Mr. Burns pointed out that the youth of today are being bombarded with the third model—that of “high value, low cost.” This isn’t the model we should be striving after! It should be the fourth—“high value, high cost.” But so few are willing to pay that cost. So few are willing to put in the necessary effort. Only those who really see the value are the ones who are going to be willing to pay the cost!
And the good news? We don’t need to do this on our own! In Matthew 11:28-30, Christ admonishes us to share the burden with Him. He wants to be right there, assisting us and helping us! “Take my yoke upon you …. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (verse 29-30).
There is a great cost to live this way of life, but if we have the vision, we will be willing to pay whatever cost is necessary. And Christ wants to be right there helping us. See the great value in this calling. It’s worth the investment.