STOP AND THINK – What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. (Thomas Paine, 18th century political theorist)
We have probably recognized the truth in what Paine wrote. When things are given to us or earned at little cost, they are often not valued very highly. But the things we worked hard to get or paid a high price for—those things we value much more highly. We should determine, then, the worth of what we seek and work hard to achieve what is of greatest value.
Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).