Every Castle Has a Cost

 

Photo by Kitera Dent on Unsplash

Everybody loves a good fairytale and often our expectations are just that, a fairytale.  Most of the time when we see a castle, we think of fairy tales and happy endings.  I can't help but think about a lot of the other things that happen behind palace walls while the outside world is fantasizing about being on the inside.

Think about Bathsheba, minding her business taking a bath, and becoming the object of the king's desire.  Her life was turned upside down because the king's lust overcame him.  She tried to do the right thing and even asked him not to, saying if you just ask my husband, he'll oblige.  Did that stop him? No!  So fast forward and now she's pregnant, but her husband's been away at war. The king tried to cover up his mess but her Husband was a dedicated soldier.  What did that win him?  A set up to be murdered. He was sent to the front lines and was murdered at the king's command. On top of all that... the baby ended up dying. 

Bathsheba ended up in the palace and having more children with the king but at what cost? Sometimes we look at a situation that looks beautiful and magical and think it's great.  That's because we can't see beyond the walls, behind the doors, or in secret places. We have a very limited view of reality. 

I think about another scenario that took place behind the palace walls and Queen Vashti comes to mind.  If you don't know her story, let me give you a summary.  Her husband, King Ahasuerus, was hanging out with his boys, drinking, boasting, and talking trash.  He called for his wife and wanted her to come and parade herself naked in front of his friends.  She refused and was removed from her position.  I can't be too mad about it because it made room for Esther to become Queen and save her people.  How many people would've looked and been like dang she was the Queen, how did she mess that up??

Sometimes we look at other people's relationships, jobs, finances, etc., and wish we could be like them or set them as "goals" not knowing the cost.  You never know what goes on behind closed doors or what the cost of someone else's oil, success, or happiness truly costs. Some of those people that appear happy have suffered greatly before getting to that point, have endured great losses on the way to success, or struggled internally and felt unworthy.  

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

Philippians 4:11-13NKJV

Paul said it best, no matter what the situation, I've learned to be content.  Whether hungry or full, in abundance or without... We must learn to be content.  I learned early that sometimes we have to sacrifice the comforts of the cushy life right now, to work for something greater that we aspire to be or have.  In that, I learned  I'd rather build my own castle than inherit somebody else's stuff. 

We each have a different capacity to hold and handle things.  What may be a small cost to someone else, may be the most expensive thing in the world to us. Whatever you're building, be content in it.  The thing you may be looking and and longing for may cost you your life, your freedom, your sanity, or your morals.  When you stay YOUR COURSE and build what you're supposed to build, everything will work together for you good.  It may still have a cost, but the end result will be for your good.