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About the AuthorPay The Price
The would be father-in-law approached the young man who desired
to marry his daughter.
“Son, I have some acreage I can sell you to help you get a good
start in life. It’s good land, good soil, that will produce a
good crop. A fine place to build a house. Though it’s worth
$30 an acre, because you will be my son-in-law, I’m willing to
sell it to you for $15 an acre. Would this be agreeable with you?”
The young man stood straight and tall and, after a whole minute
passed, answered, “No, sir.”
The father-in-law-to-be turned away and headed for his house for
he was highly offended.
“Ingrate,” he thought.
He complained to his wife about how the young man answered with a
firm “no, sir.”
A few days went by and the father of the bride refused to even
talk to his future son-in-law. But one evening the young man
came to call--not on his bride-to-be, but on her father.
“Mr. Billings, I have given much prayer and thought to your land
proposal.”
“And?” asked his father-in-law-to-be.
“And I want to purchase it!”
“Well, now,” the man replied. “You’re showing some good judge-
ment now. I was worried about you when we last talked. You know,
son, you could take up to three years to pay me.”
The young man was thoughtful and reflective before he answered.
Then he spoke. “I’ll give you $30 an acre and will pay you in
two years.”
At this, the older man was amazed but said nothing.
The young man continued. “You’re lovely daughter is worth the
full price. I ask for no special discounts or extended payments.
I intend to pay the full amount in every way for my most precious
bride. To do less would minimize my extreme love for her. Now,
is this agreeable to you, sir?”
The older man shook his head in wonderment and said, “Yes, son.
That is agreeable.”
Jesus more than paid the price for His bride, willing to save her
(purchase her) to the utmost.
In India, when a man wanted to marry a beautiful woman, he had
to pay her father for her hand in marriage with twenty cows. A
lesser beauty might demand a price of 10-15 cows.
One man offered his Father-in-law 30 coins for his daughter to wed--
an unheard of price--and yet she was not a beauty at all. But
because he exceeded all expectations to purchase her, she became
the most beautiful woman in all India. Her love for him for going
the extra mile for her brought forth a radiant beauty for all to
see.
Discounted things become common and ordinary. Things we pay the
full price for, we treasure the most. Pay $30 an acre or thirty
cows. Go the extra mile. Don’t settle for the cheap way out.
If you want a great wife, pastor, friend or employee--pay the
price!
Our world’s mantra is: Give me the best for the least but when we
pay right, we will receive right.
Jesus is not just fair, He is more than fair. He pays exceedingly
abundantly above that which we ask or think.
A baker’s dozen was 13. Always giving the customer a little extra--
alas, what happened to those days?
If we sow sparingly, we reap sparingly. If we pay generously, we
reap abundance.
Thirty dollars an acre and two years. The Father-in-law-to-be
never had to wonder about the character and integrity of his new
son-in-law. When a man pays more than is required, he is a
witness to God’s name--abundant in bountifulness. Fair business
is when the buyer and seller both win. Don’t expect a $1000
miracle for a 10 cent prayer.
continued on page 2
