Craziness
When we feel that something costs us money or effort, we value it more...
A few years ago, I was part of an NGO fighting to protect the environment and wild animals in Costa Rica. To that end, one of the areas we worked hardest on was habitat regeneration through a reforestation program, which they continue to do to this day.
To carry out the reforestation campaigns, we sought out people who owned private property and who would make it available for reforestation; however, a phenomenon occurred that caught my attention.
Initially, the NGO covered all the logistics: transportation, volunteers, lodging, tools, etc. Fundraising campaigns were held, and the trees were planted. Then, it was the property owners’ responsibility to care for them so they would grow properly. However, when we followed up, we noticed that many of the trees were dying because they weren’t cared for.
For this reason, the NGO’s managers decided to change their working method. It was decided that private properties would be asked to make a symbolic financial donation to carry out reforestation. At first, I didn’t agree with this, but after carrying out a few reforestations, we noticed that people were taking better care of the trees. I think they did it because they now felt it had cost them something. If the trees died, they would be losing the donation they had made.
Although I’m telling this as an example, I think the idea is pretty clear:
When we feel that something costs us money or effort, we value it more.
Now, why am I talking about this topic?
A while ago someone asked me if I ever doubted God’s love for me, to which I replied: no.
I might doubt my love for God, but I believe that if there is one thing I am absolutely certain of in my life, it is God’s love for me.
And that conversation led us to talk about salvation, and although I don’t want to get dogmatic, I would like to share what I believe about this topic.
The reason I started by sharing my story about the NGO is because I believe that for many people, salvation works similarly.
Many people recognize that salvation is by grace, but even so, to value it, they prefer to think that it costs them something. They can’t buy it because it’s not for sale, but they would prefer to be able to make a “donation” because they don’t like the idea of receiving something without giving anything in return.
And I think that’s one of the biggest lies the enemy has used in this generation to lead people away from God:
Thinking that God asks for something in return and that if you don’t have the ability to give it you don’t deserve His love.
Many prefer that salvation, in some way, be difficult for them because they think, perhaps unconsciously, that only then will they be able to properly value it.
And this happens because in the world we are used to putting a price on everything:
What is free is often not appreciated, and what costs effort or money we care for with more intention.
And that’s precisely why I think many people find it difficult to have faith in Christ’s redemptive work and in the idea that salvation is by grace, because it seems too good to be true.
Many people need to believe that salvation will cost them something, that they have to do something or pay in some way to earn it. Just as with the trees, people valued reforestation work more when they somehow believed they had paid for it.
But that is not the truth of the gospel. In Ephesians 2:8-9 the Word of God tells us:
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it”. (NLT)
What seems illogical from the world’s perspective—receiving such a great gift without having done anything to deserve it—is precisely the essence of God’s love.
The apostle Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 1:21:
“Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.” (NLT)
From the world’s perspective, we are only valuable if we can do something that makes us valuable. That’s why the gospel is foolishness, because the gospel puts us in a position where there’s nothing we can do to deserve salvation.
Not because it has no price, but because the highest price has already been paid. Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice, paid our debt, and made us worthy of being saved.
John, in 1 John 2:2 says:
“He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” (NLT)
And this is what is madness to the world.
Salvation is free for us, but it wasn’t cheap. It cost Christ everything. And because He paid the full price on the cross, we don’t have to add anything.
And I think that’s why, at least I, couldn’t doubt God’s love. Because there’s nothing more I can do for myself, much less for anyone else; Jesus did it all.
It’s like when we went to plant the trees, we did everything, we didn’t ask for anything in return, because our goal was so great that we were willing to “sacrifice” our time and work for the cause we were pursuing.
What God offers us is so great that we cannot reach it, that’s why we need a savior, and we should rest in that.
Because when we understand that Jesus has already done it all, we stop trying to earn God’s love and begin to live from God’s love. We stop working to be accepted, and we begin to serve because we have already been accepted.
That’s the beauty of the gospel: that what we couldn’t buy, Christ paid for with his blood; that what we couldn’t reach, he brought down from heaven and placed in our hands.
That’s why Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 2:2:
“For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.” (NLT)
Because when you understand the cross, everything else falls into place. What the world calls folly, we call grace. A priceless grace, but with infinite cost.
If this thought spoke to you or encouraged you in any way, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
And if you’re going through something and need prayer, I’m here. Feel free to send me a message.
If something you read here blesses you, encourages you, or draws you closer to Jesus—then it’s all been worth it. But, if you’d like to support me in a small way to continue writing, you can buy me a coffee. God bless you!
Something I so needed to read. I slip in and out of this need to earn and I think many seasoned Christian’s do the same. It’s an essential reminder and you put it so eloquently, thank you.❤️