Counting the Cost...the Wayfarer 8/8/14

Counting the Cost (1 Of 2)
 8/8/14

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

(Luke 14:28)

Today we begin our message from the Gospel of Luke, where we find Jesus addressing a great multitude that followed him after His previous address to the Pharisees and the parable of the great feast.

This is another topic that will, I promise be addressed in the future!

We may cover a great deal of scripture today, as Jesus was paraphrasing a passage from proverbs, but first let us look to this passage in Luke:

“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me,

cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

(Luke 14 25-28)

Christ was addressing a large group of people, who, after hearing him speak with such authority to the Pharisees, decided to see where he was going, and followed.

This was done partially out of sheer curiosity, some following only to see how far he would go in opposition to the authorities of the time, and what would befall him.

Others sincerely listened to what he had taught and wanted only to hear more.

All had one thing in common, they had not, any of them, and taken into consideration what it truly meant to be one of his disciples or what effect it would have on their lives.

Christ tells them the cost of following him would mean being in contention with the beliefs of all those that they held dear, questioning if the belief was sincere enough to be maintained in the face of their skepticism.

He went on to tell them that to follow him entailed a complete life change, a change in the way one thought about their own lives and what was important to them to let them know of the sacrifices required to truly follow him.

He foreshadowed his own crucifixion with the comment about having to bear a cross. This was intended to convey the extent to which they must go, even in opposition to the Roman laws of the time to be a true disciple.

He continued on:

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is fit neither for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

(Luke14 29-35)

Jesus was pretty harsh in his comments to this multitude!

This is because the way to becoming a true Christian is also pretty harsh!

Jesus covered a large number of pitfalls that would, of a necessity befall those who wish to follow him.

 The first of these mentioned was the opinion of others who would see that they had started to “build” by following Christ, but didn’t follow through with the required change.

 It is too easy to let the opinions of your peers take control of your actions, and, instead of following the teachings of Jesus, do the things that make you more popular with them. This of itself negates discipleship!

The example of the king counting the expenditure of human life is a great example of, “counting the cost.”

If you truly follow Christ, you will quickly find yourself in a minority with forces arrayed against you that seem overwhelming, unless you remember the power of His grace!

Unlike that king mentioned, we cannot send an ambassador to make peace with the enemy.

There are no acceptable conditions of peace.

The last three verses of this passage remind us that we either are, or are not Christians. There is no middle ground. 

We are either fit to be followers, or we are not. This is something determined, not by our words, but by our lives!

 I will conclude here with the promise of covering the passage in proverbs at our next meeting. This scripture defines even more concisely the requirements of discipleship and is why Jesus chose it to quote from.

For now, I salute you with the love of this sinner, saved by the grace of God through the blood sacrifice of his Son Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

  AMEN and AMEN
the Wayfarer