Daily Devotional
Trade Off (Part 2)
Text: Matthew 19:27
“Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?”
Message
What is the relationship between decisions and trade-offs?
When a decision is made, there will usually be trade-offs. We define trade-offs as compromises, meaning that something must be given up in order to make the best decision. This is because each choice will meet some of the goals, but not all of them.
By definition, a trade-off involves choosing between two things we want. Too often, we only see the negative side of trade-offs – what we have to give up. But there is a positive side too.
A proper management of trade off requires among others, your first defining, understanding and priortization of your goals and constraints framework followed with the building of a minimum viable product, application of agile and lean principles, communication and collaboration.
When architecting solutions, determining tradeoffs enables you to select an optimal approach. Often, you can improve performance by trading consistency, durability, and space for time and latency.
In Matthew 19:27-29, Peter said unto Jesus, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” And in Matthew 19:28-29, “Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”
The account ended with a food for thought on the need to trade-off wisely in Matthew 19:30, “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” In other words, some tradeoff leads to loss of Divine positioning, advantage, inheritance and heritage, irreversible loss and regrets among others.
Leaving all to follow in Luke 18:24-34 implies that it is impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom; only God can make it possible. But self-sacrifice will be rewarded in this life and the next.
When it comes to not trading off our parents’ Ephesians 6:1-5, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
Ephesians 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Are your parents’ efforts at bringing you up in the nuture of the Lord not being looked up by you as “provoking to wrath”?
St. Mark 8:32, “And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him.
St. Mark 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
St. Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
St. Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
St. Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
My song remains,
1. It pays to serve Jesus, I speak from my heart; He’ll always be with us if we do our part; There’s nought in this wide world can pleasure afford, There’s peace and contentment in serving the Lord.
Refrain:
I love Him far better than in days of yore,
I’ll serve Him more truly than ever before;
I’ll do as He bids me, whatever the cost,
I’ll be a true soldier — I’ll die at my post.
2. And oft when I’m tempted to turn from the track, I think of my Saviour — my mind wanders back. To the place where they nailed Him on Calvary’s tree— I hear a voice saying, “I suffered for thee.” [Refrain]
3. There’s a place that remembrance still brings back to me, ’Twas there I found pardon — ’twas Heaven to me; There Jesus spoke sweetly to my weary soul, My sins were forgiven, He made my heart whole. [Refrain]
4. How rich is the blessing the world can not give, I’m satisfied fully for Jesus to live; Tho’ friends may forsake me, and trials arise, I’m trusting in Jesus, His love never dies. [Refrain]
The choice is yours!