While salvation is a free gift, it is not without a cost. It’s given to us freely, but it cost Jesus everything as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
There are also “costs” for you and me as we follow Christ. So many want to live the Christian life without any sacrificing or any giving, but there’s more to it than that. For instance, in saying “Yes” to Christ, we’re saying “No” to much of what the world around us has to offer.
There is also a cost associated with reaching the lost—those who have not yet recognized their need for a Savior and are still living life on their own terms. If you look at Luke 15:8-10, you’ll see what I mean:
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
“Doesn’t she light a lamp?” First, it will cost you resources to look for the lost. The text tells us that the woman lit a lamp in order to look for the lost coin. You may not think that’s a big deal, but you need to remember that there were no light switches to turn on, or flashlights to brighten the dark. Many homes also did not have any windows to allow natural light to enter. So, the woman chose to use a very precious and expensive asset by lighting the oil. She spent her resources to look for the lost coin.
“Doesn’t she sweep the house?” Not only does it cost you resources but it also cost you time to look for the lost. We read in verse 8 that the woman sweeps the house in her search. Whether the word “sweep” here literally means cleaning, or if it means searching inch-by-inch, both reflect a significant labor-intensive investment of time as she seeks the prized coin. She did it without hesitation because of the value of that which was lost.
“Doesn’t she search carefully?” Finally, looking for the lost will cost patience and thoroughness. The woman “searched carefully until she found it.” This lady looked, searched, cleaned and looked again. She did this over and over until she found the coin. There was an emotional investment as she did not give up after one failed try, but continued because it was precious to her.
Yes, there is a price to be paid for reaching the lost. The question remains: are they worth it? Do me a favor—stop for a moment and think about those around you who have not made a decision for Christ. Think about your mom or dad, your brother or sister, your neighbor, your co-worker. Tell me—are they worth it?
Of course they are! In fact, our text above tells us that the souls of those around us are so important that “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Every soul is precious and needs to hear the message of hope in Jesus Christ. He paid the ultimate price for you. Ask Him to help you as you extend yourself to reach others.
