What You Cannot Afford. Don’t Be Lacking!

Afford means being able to have or do. You can make the payment. Perhaps it most often applies to being within a person’s financial means. But it extends beyond finances. If your “assets” don’t meet the need, there is a prudent next step. Either you cut down on what you think you need (do you really need it if you cannot afford it?) or you find a way to increase your income to cover the thing so that you can afford it.

There are some things you cannot afford to be without. You cannot afford to be without truth. To be lacking in righteousness may not seem like a big deal today, but on judgement day it is a tragedy to be without righteousness. Oftentimes you cannot afford to open your mouth. It is better to stay silent.

It is a problem to be deficient in vitamins. It is an even bigger challenge to live life with acute wisdom-deficiency. Finally (and the list is probably much longer), you cannot afford to live life knowing what God has said and then not doing it. That brings us full circle. You cannot afford to be without truth and righteousness.

The book of Romans makes it very clear that getting truth understanding that we are all sinners and separated from God. We deserve death and we are unrighteous. However, it is possible to have peace with God, and it isn’t by works we do. It is by faith in the finished work of Christ.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1

Some “Afford” and “Lack” Scriptures to Consider

When we read the Bible, it is not prudent to rush past the words without thinking about their significance. God doesn’t lie and you cannot afford to disregard His words.

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Proverbs 11:4

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6

“He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.” Proverbs 6:32

“Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.” Proverbs 11:12

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

Just because you “believe” in Jesus doesn’t mean you live life any way you want. You cannot afford to do that. James makes that very clear: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.