Counting the Cost

05 Jul Counting the Cost

Read Luke 14:27-33
Thought for the Day: Following Jesus is a life commitment.

In 1822, several prominent Scottish figures, including Sir Walter Scott, decided to fund and build a memorial. The structure would be modeled after the Athenian Parthenon in honor of the Scottish soldiers who had lost their lives in the Napoleonic wars only a few years prior. With great excitement and fanfare, this monument was approved by an Act of Parliament in July. But, things quickly stalled and work was delayed until 1826. Three years later, the project completely ran out of money and production ended. To this day, the National Monument of Scotland looks like an unfinished Parthenon.

Jesus Himself stressed the importance of considering cost before starting a new venture. He asked, “Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” Just as a builder must consider the scope and cost of a project, Jesus asked all who are willing to follow Him to consider what saying ‘yes’ really means. Following Him means letting go of everything else and going all-in. A relationship with Christ means putting Him first and following obediently.

Too often, it is easy to approach faith like the building of the Scottish Parthenon. It is easy to begin with excitement, emotion, and fanfare before quickly forgetting the love we had when we first encountered Jesus. But, Jesus asks us to understand what that path entails when we choose to follow Him. The path is not a cheap one – we are asked to bear our own crosses and follow. But, when we count the cost of faith in Christ, we begin to appreciate the life-long walk He invites us on!

In Christ,
Pastors Stan and David