Opportunity Cost Or: The Secret To Life

This week, Shane Parrish from The Knowledge Project Podcast talked about Henry Singleton of Teledyne, saying,

He compared all options against each other. “I won’t pay 15 times earnings,” he said. “That would mean I’d only be making a return of 6 or 7 percent. I can do that in T-bills.” Every capital allocation decision was measured against alternatives.

This is quite a powerful way to think about…everything.
Life is a constant series of trades.
Every choice we make — every “yes” we give — is also a “no” to something else.
The wise don’t just ask, “Is this good?”
They ask, “Is this better than my other options?”
Singleton knew: Every allocation of resources — time, money, energy — should be measured against the alternatives.
That’s not just wise investing. It’s biblical living.
Opportunity cost isn’t just a business concept — it’s a deeply spiritual one.
The Bible constantly invites us to compare — not just accept whatever option is in front of us.
Jesus himself framed life in terms of opportunity cost:

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”

(Mark 8:36)

In other words:
You could win everything you think you want… and still lose what matters most.
Throughout Scripture, God constantly framed the lives of His people in the language of choices and costs:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.”

(Deuteronomy 30:19)

God doesn’t simply ask His people to obey — He teaches them to recognize the stakes.
Every decision is a crossroads:
Life or death. Blessing or curse. Wisdom or foolishness.
In fact, every decision we are making is a decision between life and death. At least, it’s on a spectrum of life and death.
I’ve been writing about this since beginning this newsletter. It’s all about life and death. A good choice based on your true values is a move towards life, and a poor choice is poor because it is a move towards death.
Biblical thinking means:

• Measuring options not just by surface appeal, but by their true return.
   
• Asking: “If I give my heart to this — what am I giving up?”
   
• Remembering that every “yes” is also a “no” to something else.
   

Biblical Examples of Opportunity Cost Thinking:
1. Mary vs. Martha (Luke 10:38–42)

• Martha was busy with “many things” — good things!
   
• Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet.
   
• Jesus said Mary had “chosen the better portion,” and it would not be taken from her.
   
• Opportunity Cost: Martha’s busyness cost her the chance to be with Jesus. Mary chose life.
   

2. The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17–27)

• He wanted eternal life but wasn’t willing to give up his wealth.
   
• He chose earthly treasure over heavenly treasure.
   
• Opportunity Cost: He walked away from life itself, clinging to possessions.
   

3. Paul’s Life Reorientation (Philippians 3:7–8)

• Paul counted all his earthly achievements as “dung” compared to knowing Christ.
   
• He realized that holding onto reputation and status would cost him intimacy with Christ.
   
• Opportunity Cost: He chose the greater treasure. He chose life.
   

What if we thought more biblically about opportunity cost in everyday life?

• Every hour spent mindlessly scrolling is an hour not spent growing, loving, or serving. It is dying.
   
• Every dollar spent feeding our ego is a dollar not invested in the Kingdom, but in our death.
   
• Every decision to pursue comfort might be a decision not to pursue calling, which is a key component of life.
   

Biblical humans are wise stewards who think beyond the immediate, and ask:
“What’s the real trade happening here?”
And the stakes are higher than we realize.
In the small daily choices, as well as the big life decisions, we are always choosing:
Life or death. Blessing or curse. Growth or decline.
You can live your life on autopilot, saying yes to whatever is loudest…
Or you can live intentionally, choosing “the better portion,” like Mary did.
Jesus invites us to think like investors of the soul:
To allocate our lives toward the highest return — Him.
Every decision is an investment.
Choose life.
Choose the better portion.
What About You:
Where in your life are you making automatic trades — accepting the easy or the urgent without thinking about what it’s costing you?

May and I pause today and measure our decisions not by urgency, but by a LIFE we will live eternally.

Jeff B. Miller