How much does it cost? Or as I learned to say in Schrollbach, Germany as a second grader, “Wie viel costet?” In every culture, we learn to ask this question. Isn’t it presumptuous though? Not everything is for sale.
Simon saw what God could do when the Holy Spirit came upon the new Samaritan believers. Perhaps he imagined what he could do with such power. How much does it cost? He was prepared to pay handsomely for the power of God. But God’s presence and power are not for sale. Peter corrected him, “You and your money will perish. You thought you could buy the gift of God? You get nothing because your heart is not right with God.
It is possible to view all things through the lens of economics. Even Christians can get caught up in this. As Oscar Wilde said, “We know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” If life is finally about making the most possible money in a lifetime, then we will view life through the economic lens. That lens is limited, though. And it sees things differently than God does.
God is not a means to our ends. To this day, powerful people attempt to use God for their purposes. But God still refuses to be coopted for our purposes. God is not about our brand or our acquisition of power or influence. Listen closely to what people are saying. Seek first the Kingdom of God and trust him to give you what you need. God is not a means to an end, but the end itself. He, alone, is the point. Let us not miss the point!
