"Something for Nothing?"

“Something for Nothing?”

 

When I was a high school junior I took physics, a course which confirmed my suspicion that I wasn’t cut out to be a scientist! Most of what transpired in that class of 50+ years ago has been long forgotten but the teacher said one thing over and over which I’ve thought about many times since then: “You can’t get something for nothing.” (To reinforce this principle it was prominently posted on the wall in the lab.) Can we? Let’s take a look at this statement to see if it fits in several areas of our lives.

Scientifically this observation is always true. Whenever a machine is used it costs something—gas must be put in a car, electrical power into a sound system, etc. Even the simplest hand tools, like a wrench or lever, must sacrifice speed and/or distance to achieve a mechanical advantage to benefit us.

In economics the saying may or may not be true. We obtain our goods and services, such as food, clothing, telephone, and water by trading money or perhaps bartering for them. However, on rare occasions, due to bonuses, gifts, or prize winnings, we might receive something at no cost to us. (Even in this, watch out for the fine print and/or hidden gimmicks!)

When we consider God’s ways these words are totally untrue. The whole basis of our salvation is that Christ did for us what we were powerless to do for ourselves—there is nothing we can do to earn forgiveness from sin. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us clearly, “…It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.” Someone has described grace as everything for nothing for sinners who don’t deserve anything. And it is available in abundance to overcome any sin in our lives (“…Where sin increased, grace increased all the more….”—Romans 5:20).

So can we really get something for nothing? Yes, in what matters most: forgiveness and restoration to God through Jesus. But as with any gift, we must take it.

Blessings!

Jim McMillan