I can tell you the cost of of a black Calvin Klein double-breasted pea coat from Macy’s (even though it’s a size too big and needs to be exchanged), some xbox 360 games, a New England Patriots hoodie, and 3 1/2 pound prime rib I cooked for Christmas dinner.
What I can’t tell you is the cost of doubt.
When I was in publishing a couple years ago, I always knew that any project we worked on carried with it an unmeasurable, often forgotten expense. It’s called opportunity cost. In other words, whatever other projects we chose to not work on became the opportunity cost of those we did work on.
Opportunity cost became particularly high when something we worked on failed. Not only did we not enjoy the projected sales from the failed project, but we missed out on sales from whatever we had not worked on.
I fear there’s a very high opportunity cost associated with doubt. When I fail to believe God, it costs me something. Unfortunately, I never know how much.
In James 1, we’re told:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
Does that sound serious to you? It does to me. Being a doubter, a double-minded man sounds like it carries a very high cost, one I don’t think I can afford. Sadly, I think I incur it more than I’d like to admit.
Imagine if the opportunity cost of doubt could be monetized. What would it be like to sit down at the end of the month to review your expenses? Mortgage: $1,200. Utilities: $450. Food: $875. Doubt: $2,500. Insurance: $600.
I’m not suggesting doubt is a financial cost, although it could be in some cases. It’s just that if it were that tangible, we’d take it a lot more seriously.
How much might doubt be costing you? Is it a lost relationship with a spouse or child? Is it a business deal that never materializes? Could it be a ministry God wants to birth through you that never gets off the ground?
You can read about a guy in 2 Kings 6: 24-7:20 who paid with his life for doubting. That’s more than I want to pay.
What’s causing you to doubt today? What steps will you take to reduce the cost of doubt?
What could 2009 be like if you could cut your doubt opportunity cost in half?