“In the world of economics, there are two kinds of cost—an actual cost and an opportunity cost.”

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book, Double Blessing (p. 123). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

We are for the most part good at the actual cost but not the opportunity cost.

Mark says, “An actual cost is an expenditure. It shows up on your balance sheet as a liability, and it’s relatively easy to account for. An opportunity cost is a hidden cost. It’s the loss of potential gain, often because of indecision or inaction.”

Luke 14:28 (NLT) says, “Don’t begin until you count the cost.”

Mark continues, “Jesus spoke those words in the context of a construction project, but they are true of a thousand things. When it comes to counting the cost, most people fail to realize that it’s a two-sided coin. Most of us are pretty good at counting the actual cost. Counting opportunity cost? Not so much. Why? Because opportunity cost involves scenario planning and systems thinking. And when you try to account for the future, there are far more variables at play. Spiritually speaking, counting opportunity cost is a moral calculation that involves a measure of faith. And few things are more critical when it comes to your future.”

He goes on, “You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Goodness is not the absence of badness. That is a glass-half-empty gospel. Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s playing offense, which is the opposite of playing it safe. As Christ-followers, we should be more known for what we’re for than what we’re against. Sure, you can maintain the status quo and there will be no net loss. There is no actual cost. But the opportunity cost is staggering.

“If you stay in the boat, you’ll miss out on the miracle!

“Potential is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God. And that goes for every blessing as well.”

We are in the season of giving.  God is truly the giver of all givers and He is the giver of opportunity and potential in each one of us.  Let’s not look at just the actual as we see but also the opportunity as God sees. So, would you step out of the actual in faith and pay the price for His opportunity?  Would you? 

Yes, yes!