Count the Cost for a Tower - Luke 14:28

Luke the beloved physician wrote about Jesus, “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, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty-seven of his book Luke shared how Jesus asked, “which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost” where we read:

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first,

and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

The verse reads, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, ...” Luke began with the words, “for which of you” or “because, since and on account that what person whether male or female among those listening to Jesus in the crowd”, “intending to build a tower” which means “have in mind, resolve, determine and purpose to erect and construct a fortified structure rising to a considerable height to repel a hostile attack or to enable a watchman to see in every direction”, “sit not down first” or “are not seated in the beginning and before building the tower”. Luke shared how Jesus asked the crowd who among them “intends” to erect a “tower” does not at the beginning think through the following idea.

The verse goes on to say, “... and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” Luke continued with words, “and counts the cost” or “and calculates, reckons and decides by voting the expense for building the tower”, “whether he have sufficient” which means “if the person building the tower has enough money, supplies, labor, etc” “to finish it” or “to complete the tower”? Luke shared how Jesus continued His question concerning building a “tower” and discovering in advance whether they have enough “supplies” to complete it.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus introduced the idea of “counting the cost” for following Him. He employed the example of “building a tower” and the planning for the expense of it in advance to share how a person should “count the cost” for being His disciple. God wants every person to yield their lives to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, but there is a “cost” on earth for doing so. Everyone who considers these things carefully will understand, there is treasure gained in Heaven for having a relationship with Jesus that will far exceed any perceived “loss” that is incurred on earth. (See Romans 8:18)

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says what happens, “after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it” Jesus, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".