Cost-Benefit Analysis and Christianity

For those of my friends that read this blog and went to Teen Camp 2007, this will sound very familiar. It is something that the Lord placed on my heart.

Today during prayer meeting, Hannah talked about the story of Jesus and the rich young man (Matt. 19:16-30). Jesus asks the young man to sell everything he has to follow him and at that, the man's heart breaks. In worldly terms, he was wealthy and rich. His response to Jesus's request (which is actually more of a demand) shows where his heart is: money. Quite often, we find ourselves in the position of the young man, at a crossroad. Through personal convictions and biblical truths, we are often called to give up things that we treasure. For some, it means indulging in less material goods. For others, it means straying away from the party scene. Or maybe it's something else. Maybe you got into your dream college but you feel that God is calling you to go elsewhere. Regardless of what it is, it is often something that we hold in high regard but are unwilling to give up because our hearts desire is contrary to the will of God.

So now bring in cost-benefit analysis. In economics, we learn that if the benefit of an action outweighs the cost, we should proceed. If the cost is greater than the benefit, we should cease. So then, what does this mean for Christianity? The cost of following Jesus is not a light one. In fact, the cost of following Jesus is EVERYTHING. We give up our rights, desires, and lives. Seems pretty extreme, huh? But what is the benefit? The benefit is everything that Jesus has to offer: a personal relationship with Him and eternal life with Him! The benefit of obeying God (glorifying Him through our actions) is so much greater than the cost!

Lately, this is something that I've been wrestling with. Even before I found myself cracking under the pressure of an intense course load, I was debating changing my major. Don't get me wrong. I love pharmacy and everything that it has to offer. I believe that it is a very rewarding career and is beneficial to the community. Since summer, I've felt a slight tug on my heart to go into education. This whole time, I've been wrestling with the idea. I like pharmacy. I don't like attitude from teenagers. Both require about the same amount of schooling. I've already committed to a pre-pharmacy tract and switching majors would require extra school for a bachelor's degree. The opportunity cost of taking a job in education as opposed to pharmacy is nearly $40,000 for the first year. More than anything, this is what I was caught up on. God's telling me to switch from a major that I like, pays better, and has 6 years of schooling to a job that I may quite possibly hate, pays lower, and also has 6 years of schooling? GET OUTTA HERE! And then today, I was reminded of the actual perspective of the cost benefit formula.

Following my heart
Cost: Disobeying God, living in His disapproval
Benefit: Temporary happiness, self glorification, an extra $40k a year

Following God
Cost: A career in pharmacy, $40,000 a year
Benefit: Glory to God, eternal treasures

So I can keep my $40,000 a year and live in my own little world of gratification or lose the $40,000 and know that I am honoring God through my actions. There is nothing greater than honoring our God. Nothing. The cost of following Jesus is our lives. The benefit is so much greater. With that said, I am still praying about this decision but I feel like it is not only imminent, but nearly decided.