| 1:52 MIN READ |

You’ve heard the phrase before, “Pay me now or pay me later!” It refers to the tendency we have to take short cuts in life. Our desire to get certain things done quickly or cheaply often results in skimping on the necessities. Short cuts come with consequences. They don’t last. We redo what we did, many times at a higher cost! It’s been said, “If you don’t have time to do something right, when will you have time to do it over?” (John Wooden)

What’s true in the natural realm of daily life is also true in the spiritual realm. We will all want quick spiritual growth, immediate spiritual results, and quick spiritual answers. What we don’t want is to do the long-term work that is required. We prefer not to make the full investment needed for enduring results.

Jesus gave us a lesson about this in Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) “‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.'”

Jesus illustrated the downfall of short cuts by contrasting the construction of two houses—one built on rock, the other on sand. Only one lasted. The house built on a rock took longer, cost more, and required greater effort, but stood the test of time and storms. When the wind and rain showed up, the house without foundation didn’t make it. It costs additional time, money, and effort to rebuild what could and should have been built right the first time.

Are you playing the short cut game with your life? Pay the price to build right now. You won’t regret it!

Pastor Dale

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