The Price: Are You Looking For A Bargain Or Looking For The Truth?

THE PRICE

“Are You Looking For A Bargain, Or Looking For The Truth?”

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

INTRODUCTION:

Everything comes with a price. We often judge what we will buy as we look at the price range. Some things we can’t pass up. The price is just too good. Other things we pass over. The price is outrageous.

I. PRICE RANGES

A. Throughout Society

1. Neighborhoods are designed by price ranges.

a. In a trailer park, you get a metal pipe for a mailbox post.

b. In a suburban neighborhood, you get a 4 x 4 post for your mailbox.

c. I noticed when going to a neighborhood garage sale, when you live in a

$250,000 neighborhood you get a railroad-crosstie (6 x 6 or 8 x 8).

2. Stores are designed by price ranges. They often target certain income families.

a. Thrift stores, Goodwill stores, and Value City à For those who have limited

incomes or who are just looking for a bargain.

b. WalMart fits the middle spectrum. This is probably the most populous

segment of society. This is why they are so popular.

c. Lazarus caters to the middle to upper class. We walk in looking for sale, but

seldom buy. Why? The price tag is so high. Even if we had the money,

the common man will feel the price is just too high.

3. Automobiles

a. Economy

b. Family

c. Luxury

d. Extravagant

B. Prices Can Be Inflated

1. It’s more prestigious to wear or speak of a certain brand or price range.

2. However, you often get what you pay for. When you pay an irregular price, you

get an irregular product. Ex: Odd Sizes, Short Arm/Leg Length, Missed Seam

II. LOOKING FOR BARGAINS

A. True Bargains

1. True bargains can be found. I don’t deny that.

2. There are times when it is just a bargain to pay the full price. In doing so, we get the

full service from the product or person.

There are sometimes true bargains, but often times stores have something up their sleave.

That car that was in the newspaper is never on the lot, but “we have one in almost the

same price range. The differences are so small, you will never notice. It will only add

a few dollars on the payment each month.” The months add up to $100’s or $1000’s.

B. Rip-offs

1. We find out sometimes that you can wear out two or three of those so-called bargains

while the name brand product is still going strong.

2. You end up with a product that is outdated. EX: Buying computers for $20 that

aren’t worth a nickel because the programs have changed.

3. When you pay a lemon price, you often get a lemon. It will leave you stranded

on the side of the road.

What makes us think we can get something for nothing? This is one of the immoral

things about gambling. You want to make money without making an effort to work.

It’s waiting for your “boat to come in” when you sent nothing to sea. It could just

be plain laziness.

III. SPIRITUAL BARGAINS?

A. Applying False Principles

1. You cannot always take the natural and apply it to the spiritual.

2. What makes us think we can apply these principles to spirituality?

3. Even after we know that you get what you pay for, we try to get a bargain

when it comes to a relationship with God.

4. We want to defy the principle of sowing and reaping.

B. No Exceptions

1. In the spiritual, you get what you pay for. You reap what you sow.

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that

shall he also reap. 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap

corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

2. Don’t confuse the gift of salvation with this discussion. Salvation is free.

However, a relationship with God will cost you something. A ministry

in the will of God will cost you something.

IV. THE PRICE

A. The Good News

1. The cost is within everyone’s price range. All can afford it.

2. How can this be? Everyone has what it requires to have a relationship with

God . . . time, talent, and effort. There are 24 hours in everyone’s day.

We choose how to spend them.

B. God Sets The Price

1. It doesn’t require a certain amount of time, talent, or ability. Often it has to do

with availability.

2. God knows your talent structure, He gave it to you. He is just looking for those