COUNTING THE COST

(Luke 14:28-32)

Luke 14

 28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it --

 29 "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

 30 "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

 31 "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

 32 "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

 (NKJV)

 

 You count the cost before you invest your time, money, and effort into a long term commitment and rightly so.. He uses the story of counting the cost before undertakes a building project (Luke 14:28-32).

 

 Many of the promises/rewards offered by God for faithful Christian living is found in the Bible, examine the following passages:

 

1. We cannot direct our own steps

 

                      –“Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps”- Jeremiah 10:23

 

Who knows the needs of man better than his creator? In His wisdom and care, He has richly supplied ALL our needs to include physical, emotional, social and mental needs.

 

2.  But Christ will help.

 

                      He will bare our problems and share our joys.

                               Come unto me all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" - Matthew 11:28-30

 

God’s family cares about one another. When one suffers, all suffer.  “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Romans 12:15

 

Satan’s burden is neither easy nor light. In fact, often times you will carry that burden all your life and regret every moment of what seems like joy. He can make it seem like the thing that will bring you a degree of joy. .

 

3. Jesus will mediate our prayer requests

 

                       - “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"- 1 Timothy 2:5-6.

 

Who is better prepared to serve as our “go between” than the great physician?

 

4. Following a lifetime of faithful service

 

                    Christ will welcome us into that eternal Heaven prepared for the Righteous -Revelation 2:10 

 

“To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you" -1 Peter 1:4.

 

Not only has He promised you a better, happier care free life here but something more wonderful that you can imagine.

 

 

Bill Watkins