Opportunity Cost
By Shirley Mitchell
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
Oskar Schindler was a member of the German Nazi Party in WWII. He was a womanizer and a heavy drinker. When the Jews were being corralled in the ghetto during the war, he saw it as an opportunity to start a factory that used Jewish workers who he could pay lower wages than the Polish workers. He started this factory for the sake of making money; the money was what he wanted. He bribed officials to get workers so he could make money.
However, his factory became a sanctuary, a place of safety that protected the Jews from being hunted, tortured, and killed in Poland. 1100-1200 names of Jews were on his list – Schindler’s List – which is the title of the movie that tells his story.
The movie ends with the Nazis’ defeat. The Jews would be safe. Schindler was going to be hunted and had to flee for his life. As he walks to his car, the workers of his factory line both sides of the road. They are there to thank the man who saved them. They give him a letter signed by each person. The letter tells what Schindler has done for them. There are families present - parents with children…husbands and wives. They will never forget what he has done for them.
Schindler looks at the people whose lives he has saved. He put the letter in his coat. He looks intently at their faces. He says something low to his foreman of the factory. He says it softly and broken, “I could have gotten more out. I could have gotten more.” He gestures toward a car that is his way to escape and save his life. He says he could have sold it, and it would have released 10 prisoners. He realizes his gold pin on the lapel of his coat would have bribed an official to release two more. Then he stares at the pin and says at least one more. Then he falls in a crumpled heap on the ground at the feet of his foreman. He is crying from the pit of his soul because he didn’t save that one more life. One more life is precious.
Oskar realized what matters. He realized the value of reaching one person and saving just that one. Oskar died penniless in 1974 and asked to be buried in Jerusalem, buried near the ones he had grown to love. He realized what matters. It wasn’t the money. It was the people.
We have to ask ourselves, “How many prisoners of darkness am I willing to have a role in their release because of my sacrifice for the kingdom?” God will make us choose between things like a house, vacation, décor of house, entertainment, clothes, a car, or spending our resources of time, money, and energy for the kingdom. Opportunity cost is the cost of the opportunity that you give up because you believe that the other opportunity that you take is too great to pass up.
Money can either empower Christian ministries supplying the earthly fuel for the work of the kingdom or make our lives more comfortable here while we are passing through. God can use His spiritual turbo boosting power anytime, but many times He works through the natural realm so that you and I can partner with Him just like how He called Simon Peter to partner with Him in the Gospel. He uses people who are seeking His kingdom and then releases His power. We have to find the balance of this life that God calls us to and not live like the majority of people are living.
We must seize the opportunity to advance the kingdom of God. We must show people the love of Jesus Christ that compels us. We must meet their physical needs which give us a door to meet their spiritual needs. We can’t do both. When we see their faces in heaven, we will be rewarded for all eternity if Christ dwells in us. May you and I choose the greater opportunity. Let’s put our hearts in heaven. Let’s commit to live the way of laying our treasures in heaven.
Pray with me: Oh, Lord, help me see the opportunity costs in my life. Give me the kind of heart for people like Oskar had at the end of his life. I want to lay my treasures in heaven. I realize that people are the greatest treasure. Help me to sow into people and not into things. Show me where I can change my life so I meet the needs of others. If my heart is found with my treasure, then let my heart be found with You in heaven. Let it be so evident to all that I am laying my treasures with You. I’m so sold out to You and not compromising or forgetful. Give me the heart that would do anything to save just one more person. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, I pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study, Copyright ©2008 Christ Compels