Count The Cost

Scripture

“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30 MSG)

Observation

In this passage, Jesus is painting a picture of the uncalculated cost. He relates it to someone that had an idea to build a house and set forth in the project without first understanding if he could afford to complete the project. Unfortunately for this builder, there are insufficient funds to complete the project, and the apparent failure to count the cost is now apparent to the outsiders looking in.

Application

This parable presented by Jesus parallels too often what happens with Christians or those coming to Christianity. Don’t get me wrong, it is amazing and exciting to see people that have been living an unfulfilled life give their hearts to Jesus! Even more, it is a beautiful sight to see someone that had walked away from their relationship with Jesus Christ to come back into His presence, being fully received back into welcoming arms…it is truly amazing!

But what next? Notice how the passage calls for the builder to count the cost to FINISH. There is so much more to the call of Christianity past going to church on a Sunday and posting bible verses as Facebook statuses. The call is much more than relying on good works and volunteer hours to feel accomplished and in good moral/ethical standing. According to this passage, there is a cost associated with this call, and I would be doing you a great disservice without shedding some insight into this cost. So here is it:

1. You DO NOT have to clean up your life before coming to Jesus. A theologian draws the analogy of washing up before taking a bath…it doesn’t make sense! Jesus has the desire AND power to wash you clean of your past, your insecurities, your fears, your soul wounds, and anything else that has hindered you from being a partaker of His grace for you. Your cost of following Jesus is not dependent on how clean you are when you present yourself to Him; your cost is dependent on simply presenting yourself to Him.

2. Once you let Jesus into your life, you DO have to allow Him to clean up your life. It’s interesting to see some people say, ” Of course I want Jesus to be my Lord and Savior…but I still want to control my life.” That’s like paying for car maintenance but then coming home and doing it yourself even after paying…just doesn’t make sense! This is the cost that so many people struggle with…control. Power. Authority. In some respects, it’s as if the passage is asking, “it’s not about can you afford to follow Jesus. It’s about can you afford not to follow Jesus?” And therein lies the true cost.

It’s as simple as that. When I have to count the cost, I have to understand that I can come to Jesus EXACTLY the way that I am right now, but I need to be willing and able to allow Jesus to clean my life up. Luke 14:33 says to forsake all that you have as counting the cost. That passage is often misinterpreted, for its Greek connotation meant to “say goodbye to.” Are you ready to say goodbye to the old life? Are you ready to say goodbye to the need for control and holding on to the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to the safety net that has hindered you from spiritual growth for all these years? If the answer is a sincere yes, then my friend, you’re on the right path of counting the cost. I’d be lying to you if I say it’ll be easy, but trust me when I say this…it’ll be worth it eternally.

Prayer

Dear God, I pray that anyone reading this would begin to feel Your heart’s desire for us. You exhibit a love that transcends human comprehension, a love so deep that an attempt to focus on it will bring a strong man to his knees in humility and adoration. I thank you that Your love is strong enough to take us at any point where we are in life. I thank you even more that you enlighten us about the cost of embracing this love into our lives so that we understand what is in store for us. The most amazing thing is that you’ve already told us what is waiting for us at the finish line…such an awesome God you are! I pray right now, in the name of Jesus, that the strongholds of control and hardened hearts will begin to melt away so that Your love and grace can come in & begin to do a great work. I thank you Lord for the healings and testimonies that will come of this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.