The Value, Price, and Cost of Life

I found this thought yesterday, and it struck a chord with me. Do you know what I mean? It sounded right, not discordant or clashing with others. It meant something to me. At the same time, I could see holes in the idea and spent some time thinking it through, and now I want to share it with you.

Here’s my adapted thought.

A bottle of water at a big box warehouse store is $0.25. Of course, you have to buy a large quantity. The same bottle in the supermarket is worth about $0.50, but the quantity is smaller. The same bottle at fast food place costs $2, and you only have to buy one bottle. If you go to a good restaurant or hotel, the same bottle can be worth up to $3. Go to a sporting event or airport or on the plane, you may be charged $5.

The bottle and the brand are the same.
The only thing that changes is the place and quantity purchased.
Each place gives a different value to the same product.

Something about being in a crowd makes you feel less valuable. True? Sometimes. It depends on who you hang out with. When you change venues, audience, timing, and need, the value can improve—supply and demand kick in. You are willing to pay the price to hang out at a certain level.

Since we are talking about “me” or “you,” the power to change your location is in your hands. Courage, tenacity, persistence, and desire – all create the idea of improving your position in life.

Perhaps the key is to reach the place where you feel your value is appreciated.
Just don’t forget the crowd you left – they still need what you have!

What do you do?

Before you nitpick my analogy, consider that the price increases the more hands that must touch the product. We often equate “price” as “value.” The higher you reach, the smaller the crowd; eventually, you reach only those who can afford you. The pyramid approach tightens, and only the top few get to enjoy the value. In other words, they can afford the cost.

Do you look for value and use it where you can get the best bang for the buck, or, buy from the highest priced location and think you received better value?

You can buy water at the warehouse but cannot take a bottle everywhere. Sometimes the same product will cost higher due to the location, and other times due to the circumstances.

This happens everywhere. The further down the line you are from the source, the higher the cost.

Different Vein of Thought

When I first read the original thought, it sounded like an excellent opportunity to narrow your world to where you become valued. Find your new position in life and feel valuable. At least, as valued as you think you’re worth. Since I muddle through life in my unique way, I paused with the celebration and rethought the lesson.

What was my synopsis? I was not too fond of the analogy.

Then, I compared the analogy to other aspects of life. The cost of a new electric car is astronomical, and we’re not yet to the place where the switch can effortlessly happen. Gas prices skyrocket, inflation flares, supply and demand are tight, and the little guy pays the more significant share of dollars to survive. That narrowed top of the pyramid shrugs it off as the cost of maintaining their position and goes with the new flow.

The Little Guy… I’m concerned about those who are barely making it in this present world. The costs are not cheap, but the value is high. The disadvantaged, helpless, and hopeless need our mercy and grace.

The Cost of Life

We like to think of life as a valuable piece of real estate, but we choose only to support those things we are willing to spend our wealth upon. What? Do you we get to choose the value and toss aside what we deem less valued?

That’s what we do all the time.

Pick the category from the news, and you see we are constantly making choices. When someone changes their valued choice, someone else threatens to burn down their house and hurt their loved ones. Wow. Are we like this? Read the headlines! It happens all the time.

Today? We have a megaphone in the shape of our social media accounts on the internet!

What Did Jesus Do?

I wonder how Jesus would approach these times? Since we’ve been like this through the centuries, I imagine his short time on earth dealt with humanity no different than we live today.

As a teenager, I remember our youth group had “street services” in Old Market Square, downtown Houston. It was a big parking lot surrounded by nightlife venues. We had a little mission on a quiet street one block away, and those who needed food and respite were welcome.

Let’s talk about what Jesus would do, and I ask if we are doing anything like this today. Jesus went into the masses of people and communicated hope, peace, and a better value on their lives.

We have split the bible into chapters and verses to share specific locations with everyone. Let’s not let that stop us from seeing and hearing what Jesus did to connect what he taught with what he did.

The last of the Sermon on the Mount and the first thing he did with what he said!

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings,
that the people were astonished at His teaching,
for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying,
“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying,
“I am willing; be cleansed.”
Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 7:28-29, 8:1-3 NKJV

Did you see it? As he left the astonished crowd, he put his sermon to work. He touched the unclean!

What Do We Do To Survive?

I certainly don’t have an answer for everyone, but if all of us would look for opportunities to make a difference in a single life or in a community of needs, we could be doing better every day.

Everywhere Jesus went, he taught
He touched humanity where they were
Even at church.
But the most powerful choice he made
Was to give himself for all

If that’s the truth of the matter
Then who am I to cast a stone
At the downtrodden, the helpless
Or those not making good choices.
He came and died for all.

We only read of this in John, the most unique gospel of the four…

“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 
John 8:1-11

Are you throwing stones? Then you better be sinless.