Benefits and Costs

I am halfway through my MBA program and there was a little economics formula that a few of my classmates and I were discussing when we were walking around downtown last night. We were talking about business strategies and how we value our employees. It was amazing how I started to see connections all over the place. The fairly well known formula is pretty straightforward and simple:

Value = Benefits - Costs

 As I sat there in church today, I read a scripture in Moroni 7 which says, "For behold, God hath said a man bein evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing. For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness." So if we take that concept and apply it financially it would look something like this:

 

If obedience has no real intent,

Then Cost => Benefits and Value =< 0

 

This explains so many things that are prevalent in our faith. It is the reason why God requires the heart. It explains why there is a difference between living the letter of the law versus living the spirit of the law. It explains how conversion is such a big deal when the cost is so high. We are talking about people sacrificing their entire status quo, lifestyle, relationships, belief system, etc. So in order to do this there must also be a significant benefit. It also explains why some people fall away from the church as well in that they don't see value in the doctrine because they don't understand it because they don't try and live it. If this equation governs not only our actions but others as well it says a lot about us as individuals.

Christ died not only for the sins of mankind but for your temptations, weaknesses, sins, and afflictions. He died for you. The cost for your salvation and exaltation was the life of the Son of God. If that is so, what does that say of what each and every person's value? An eternal and infinite sacrifice means that you have eternal and infinite worth.

So the next time you begin to doubt yourself or look at someone in pity or spite, take a breath, and remember it would be better to doubt your doubts. God loves you.