Have you ever started a project but were unable to finish? If so, did you “count the cost,” before you started?
One time, when Jesus instructed his followers that they had to leave everything to follow him, he shared two parables to illustrate the necessity of fully recognizing what was required of one desiring to walk in his footsteps and be successful.
He said,
“…don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” Luke 14:28-33 (New Living Translation)
The above rule applies not only to faithful Christian discipleship, but to every decision and commitment made.
It applies to getting married, having children, accepting a job, holding a position of responsibility, making a promise, buying a home, signing a contract, and praying for health.
Before crossing the start line, we need to understand what will be required of us to be successful, what resources we need to follow through, and a willingness to sacrifice whatever is necessary to make it to the finish line a winner.
So, “count the cost,” before making the leap. Understand the full ramifications of the commitment you are about to make, and be honest about what will be required of you to come out on top. Once you are willing to pay the price and have the price to pay, you are ready to go, and you will make it to the finish line with hands waving in the air signaling a glorious victory.
Wow, this is a potent point, especialy the “pray for health ” point. We cannot whine over God not healing us if we haven’t been willing to set aside the price ahead of time, any more than blaming God for not finishing our construction project when we didn’t make the effort to save and bank the funds.
I’ve often thought about this passage realizing it is written in the Gospels as being words spoken by Jesus. In the King James Bible the passage ends with the statement, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
This is a much more demanding calling than to give up all that one “owns.” All that one has can include not just money and possessions – but reputation, education, relations, well-being, wardrobe, security, employment: and who knows what more it might include.
Knowing God’s goodness and the peace that passes all understanding – I don’t think these two will ever be in jeopardy, though, as we – his today disciples – continue to carry on, growing in our faith from day to day. Gary
I’m not sure that anyone can ever really know the cost of an undertaiking such as those mentioned, in advance. Didn’t Mrs. Eddy comment that no one would ever know what the bringing of Christian Science to the world had cost her (paraphrased). She did what was necessary as God’s mission for her unfolded, but it doesn’t sound like she was aware of the tremendous committment, or Cost, she’d have to endure in the beginning. How would we know what the cost would be?
Sometimes we learn the real cost only after we’ve started the project. But we have to be willing to keep paying the cost to keep the project advancing.