Thought for the week

● The Cost of Living IT’S hard hitting, painful and troublesome - the cost of living is going up!

Just when we thought things were going back to “normal” after the pandemic, we now find that the “normal” goal posts have moved again.

Every sensible household is having to take stock, weigh up what comes in against what goes out, and then make the necessary changes to ensure the income exceeds the outgoings. Simples!

Well, it might sound simple enough, but making tough decisions as to what we truly need over what we really like – uhm!

It’s shocking that so many families have had to make a choice over heating or eating during the winter.

But to be blunt, that brings home to us all the reality of “the cost of living!”

A common phrase that is on everybody’s lips – but break it down a little.

What does it cost to, “truly live?”

What necessities do we need to live? Air, water, food, shelter ....

Hal Lindsey famously said, “Man can live about 40 days without food, about 3 days without water, eight minutes without air... but only for one second without hope.”

Oh, I know that’s a little harsh today, but looking at the images of war from the Ukraine and I wonder if anyone there calculates the cost of living, or rather, is dreading the cost of dying, each and every day!

The prophet Isaiah links the Saviour with the necessities of life -“Everyone who is thirsty, come buy wine and milk, without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55).

Knowing the One who is our source of life, also gives us the HOPE we need for living every day.