Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. Genesis 23:16
People are always striving to pay the least amount that they can for whatever they purchase. They fight hard to get the price lower or even free. While it is wisdom to pay a good price for a service or object, it can become stingy or greedy to pay less than a fair price or what it is really worth.
Christians are often very stingy with their money among other believers. Each one expects the other to donate their service or their goods, because they are both believers. They expect the one doing the work or giving the goods to be the generous one. If the person does not donate his time or goods, many believers are offended and go to someone else, or talk bad about him.
As Abraham had been traveling, his wife, Sarah, had passed away. Since he was in a foreign land, he had to purchase some land to bury her. He went to a man named Ephron to buy some land. Ephron wanted to give him the land at no cost, yet, Abraham insisted upon paying full price, and finally paid full price for the land. Abraham was the one being generous and refused to take something without paying the right price.
There may be times you are being given a service from another believer. Instead of just expecting it for free, offer what is a good price for the service. There may be times the person wants to donate the service or object, but do not expect it. Be generous in what you have and pay the right price. This is blessing the other person.
Think about what God has blessed you with. God is generous with you in what He gives you. God has provided the price for your sins, death on a cross. Yet, He does not charge you for it, He is generous to you. Pass that generosity on. God will provide more than all that you need.
Be the one who is a blessing to another person by being generous with your money, services or goods, but do not expect it from others. If someone is generous, you may accept, but do not expect it.
I pray today that you will know what God has given you; that you will be generous to others as God was to you; that you give as God has given to you; and that you will know God’s provision for your own life.
Amen Tom, I have this conversation often with People who insist on paying the least possible price at another’s expense.
I know I have been guilty of this in the past. I strive now to pay full price instead of fighting for a discount all the time. Thank you for reading and the comment.