In life, you rarely (if ever) get what you want; you only get what you pay for.

When you order food online, the meal that arrives matches what you ordered. This is no surprise—it’s expected. That’s what you paid for. Similarly, when you go shopping, whether for groceries, clothes or anythign else, you may see many appealing items you want, but you only leave with the ones you pay for. No matter how much you wanted the wide variety of things you might have seen at the store, you can only leave with what you paid for. This is straightforward and universally accepted. We adhere to this principle so strictly that we consensually agree to the law which states that taking something without paying is a crime and anyone who does so should be punished. We call it ‘stealing’.

Despite our understanding of this concept, we seldom apply this principle consistently across different areas of life. We sometimes assume we can get what we want without offering anything in return. It’s crucial to understand that various forms of currency exist beyond money, such as time and energy.

In life, everything we want comes with a cost. Even the things we perceive as free, such as an abundant life or spiritual salvation, have been paid for by someone else. For instance, the salvation of our souls was paid for by the selfless act of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, whatever you seek in life, identify its cost —be it time, effort, money, or something else; then, decide to make that payment. Just as you can’t leave a store without paying for your items, you shouldn’t expect to get what you “want”. You’re only entitled to what you pay for.