I'm a thrift store, yard sale, clearance rack kind of gal. I like a good deal. I also try to keep a schedule for getting the most out of my time. But what if I didn't have to be thrifty? What would I lavish my resources on?

If I could spend money freely on something, what would it be? I could really be charitable and give to more ministries, missionaries, and those in need. I have selfish desires, too. If I had enough money, I'd purchase that whiz-bang curriculum that helps teach every thing to every child, or better yet, I'd hire a maid! If I could spend time freely on something, what would it be? I would love to be hospitable any day of the week. And, it would be nice to have time to read a whole book through in one sitting instead of taking a month's worth of potty breaks. Or better yet, I'd love to have free time when absolutely nothing has to be done.

What I truly need is something that is very costly of both my resources and my time. And I am not always willing to pay the price. It's expensive. How expensive? It costs all that I have! Just what is it that is so costly? Let's look at the book of Proverbs: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." -- Proverbs 4:7

Another translation of the latter half of this verse reads, "Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Obviously it is wisdom and understanding that we are to be spending our time and resources getting, and they are so important that we are to go after them though it cost all that we have. The Son of God is made manifest in the Word of God and spoken of here as Wisdom. Are we going after Wisdom with all that we have or is it just too "expensive"? I sometimes take such a casual approach that I skip time reading the Word because I think I already "know" what it says. That path has led me to slow starvation and near spiritual death instead of the abundant life God desires for me.

Choices
"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." --Proverbs 8:10, 11

This verse asks us to choose things eternal over things temporal. Earthly things can appear precious and they can create a desire in us towards them. However, nothing compares with what God considers precious. He considers wisdom precious; do I? Do I invest my little minutes on getting wisdom, or do I waste what little time I have on things that will fade away? Are the things that take up all my time and resources what I truly desire in my family's life?

Choosing what brings life is costly. It will cost me those little minutes of pleasure reading. It will cost me my little resources to be spent in giving my children Christ-centered lessons. It will cost me time in searching the Scriptures with my children while teaching them character. It will take filling myself with the Word rather than entertaining myself with other things.