Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later

A number of years ago an advertisement dealing with automobile repair said, “You can pay me now or pay me later.”

That’s a takeoff from a very real rule of life. Here’s  the rule.

You can play now and pay later, or you can pay now and play later. If you choose to play now and pay later, you will play less and pay more in the future. If you play now you will play less and it will cost you more, much more.

What looks like a good deal always becomes a very bad deal.

I wonder how many young adults through senior adults have said to me: “I was a fool” or “I wasted my life” or “I could done something significant with my life?”

Those feelings have become more intense in the last few years and the cost of playing now has gone up exponentially.  I don’t know the statistics but my observation is that the main demographic for suicide is no longer middle aged men. Based on my experience, it is males 18-35. What a terrible tragedy is unfolding around us.

Everything in American life tells our youth and young adults to play now. It gives every impression that you can play now and never have to pay.

That attitude is not true to life, and it is not true to God’s Word.

God’s Word is clear. Our actions have consequences. Jesus said, “For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done” (literally, “according to his practice”).

God’s Word would make the aphorism in this way: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

This is what I told my children. “Not everything that happens to you will be good, but if you live for Christ you will experience the best life possible.”

God wants you to live in His favor and experience His blessings.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8).

 

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

2 Responses

Leave a Reply to PHYLLIS CARNES Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *