Maybe having a grandmother who was born in Edinburgh has something to do with my urge to get something for nothing. I don’t claim to be as fanatical as some folk about searching for “free stuff”, but there are moments when I spot an opportunity.
Sometimes these come during a visit to a garden centre. Garden centres in the UK have grown into massive, sparkling retail spaces with every conceivable item for sale, some of them having nothing to do with gardening. The smart display techniques require a huge investment by the burgeoning businesses, which means increased cost to be passed on to the customer. Everything, plants included, tends to be pricey. At one otherwise delightful establishment I was taken to, even the smallest cacti (I am building up my cactus collection again) were all of £3 each.
But then I spotted a segment of a cactus lying forlornly on the gravel bed where its fellows stood in pots, awaiting a buyer. It had obviously snapped off another plant. It struck me that it should grow on its own with a bit of care. It was the perfect opportunity to buy one and get one free! I chose another cactus for purchase and took both this and the segment with me to the cash till. “By the way,” I remarked casually, “I found this lying around. I didn’t break it off, honest! Is it OK if I take it too?” “Yes, of course, go on,” replied the friendly sales assistant.
Back home I found a pot and some cactus compost and placed the appropriate end of the cactus in it. Despite my cosseting it for some months, it still looked shrivelled and I thought I had wasted my time. But not long ago it started to fill out and develop. My shrewd move had paid off, and a free of charge new cactus was mine! Rarely have I taken such pride and pleasure in any plant that I have grown.
It doesn’t always work out that way. Earlier on I did a bit of haggling over a weedy-looking Japanese maple that had not found a buyer by the time the season had come to an end and the leaf fall had set in. Again I took care of it and it made early progress, but the rigours of last winter were simply too much for it and is now too weak to grow. But the satisfaction of taking a free or cheap plant away from an otherwise expensive garden centre is worth a lot, and no doubt I shall try again when the chance presents itself.
The beauty of the Christian gospel is that, while costly, it is made available free of charge to anyone who will believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour. The prophet Isaiah pointed out long ago how senseless it is to waste your resources on “paying” remedies for sin:
“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.”
- Isaiah 55:1-2 ESV
“Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.”
- Psalm 49:5-9
The forgiveness won by the crucified Jesus Christ is worthy of respect and acceptance because it is not a part of any grubby financial deal. Truly the best things in life are free.
No comments:
Post a Comment