There is another way of looking at the cost of doing things for God, with men's wisdom, rather than calling out to the God of the barren womb and obeying minute by minute. According to the Scriptures, "the child born in the logical way" will never have the super-natural inheritance that God intended. The simple saints of the first century experienced walking in the ways and power and fellowship with the Father that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, experienced. Most today have no idea whatsoever what this means. But you and the body of Believers that you are a part of can experience the supernatural blessings and Life of God, just as some other mere men just like us did in Acts, chapters 2-4 and onward. Really! How?
For starters, seriously consider this essential, Eternal Truth:
"The LIFE becomes the Light of men," (John 1:4). "The Word became flesh, and dwelt for awhile AMONG us," (John 1:14). God's Way to relate to one another is not in a "service" or during an "event" or classroom, but as we "rise up, sit down, and walk along the way." "Mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands." The way Jesus lived with us! "Making disciples," as Jesus commanded, is apprenticeship, it's relationship, not classroom knowledge impartation (that we are so fond of in our generation) or events. Hey, it's risky to not have the props of structures, hierarchies, five-year plans, committees, pre-planned speeches and worship, and "small groups."
But God is the God Who loves a vulnerable People, with an admitted barren womb. Their whole trust is not in themselves or the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, but rather fully in the God of the barren womb, a truly awesome God.
Satan has counterfeited the real stuff -- the organic Life of a People living every minute of every day for Jesus and each other (rather than religious events and independent, self-centered lifestyles). I just have to belabor the point to make certain it's not forgotten! "Bible studies" and "worship services" and these other things sound like they ought to be good things, don't they? But then again, Ishmael and Isaac have the same dad, and look a bunch alike.
"So what could be wrong with having a preacher or a pastor or a priest or Elders? Don't those words show up in the New Testament?" Please don't confuse the Ishmael of hired hands and official Sunday speech presenters and administrators with the Isaac of organic "gifts" (not offices) of Ephesians 4:11, and elders of 1 Timothy 3! They have nothing in common, in their origins or their daily functioning amidst the Body of Christ.
Now don't go off and get cynical and skeptical about everything that crosses your path. On the other hand, don't think for one minute that everything that looks spiritual and "fruitful" is automatically from God. It ain't necessarily so. The remarkable similitude of fraudulent church stuff will easily fool those that are not leaning fully on God and obeying Him in their lives... and those with ulterior motives of pleasing men, or financial security, or any number of other placebos. A man once said, "The fact that preachers and writers spread and write God's Word is no proof that they are God's men. The devil quoted Scripture. It is possible to word a prayer without praying. It is possible to know the words of Scripture and be able to quote them without being scriptural. We are undergoing a poverty of the Spirit that leaves our religion an empty shell. Our concern (in most of the church world) is for the shadow and not the substance. Oh Lord, make our religion real! Make it Life itself!"
Ishmael is a serious contender for the throne of your life and to be the invisible leader of your church. His charming good looks and persuasive speech will often fool you into mistaking him for Isaac, unless you care to know the difference and demand to see the Fruit in your lifetime of "on earth as it is in Heaven" -- not just words or smoke. In which case, God Himself, if you'll really risk everything for Him, will stand by you to give you the discernment and courage and compassion you need to change your life, your church, and the world around you. Jesus Himself, in the Power of His immutable Word, said "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields -- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life," (Mark 10:29-30). Do you have any idea what that means?! Can you grasp what it would mean to truly have hundreds of true fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters and children? Does that sound like Acts 2:42-47 or what?! What an awesome church Jesus described. And that it can be when it is made up of people that want something more than events to attend and a "worship service high" -- folks that have given up their entire lives to see Jesus' Return for a spotless, blemishless, beautiful Bride!
"Put the slave woman and her child out of the House, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance," (Galatians 4:30). God ONLY saves His best "Wine" for those that call out to Him with barren wombs -- turning away from manmade props or test-tube babies, and turning unwaveringly to Him.