Count The Cost
Preaching
What Jesus Did:
The Answer To WWJD
We see half-finished projects all the time. People start things and fall short of the finish line for various reasons. Some commentators think that Jesus is referring to contemporary events in this passage.
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
-- Luke 14:28-33 (NIV)
Jesus is making a point about discipleship. It almost seems as if Jesus was discouraging people from following him. Certainly, Jesus wants all to be saved, that is why he died on the cross for our sins. But while salvation is free, discipleship is costly.
Christians are on the journey of discipleship in Christ. We have commenced building the building. We have started the war against sin, temptation, and the devil. How many of us were encouraged to take a good look at what we were getting into? I know I wasn't told everything. I was told, "Receive Jesus into your life and you will have eternal life." I wasn't told about spiritual warfare with Satan and the continuing battle against sin. I wasn't told that living a holy lifestyle would mean wholesale changes in how I lived my life. I certainly wasn't told that I might be called into the ministry. I wasn't told about tithing, or sacrificial giving, or the things I would not be allowed to have. I wasn't told about being forced to resign my first church or about potential mistreatment by others who call themselves Christians. I wasn't told about memorizing Bible passages, hours of prayer, and telling strangers about Jesus. I wasn't told that Sunday mornings were now God's time, not mine. How many of you were told these things? I wonder, if we had really counted the cost at the beginning, would we have made the commitment to Jesus in the first place?
• If you had known the cost of following Jesus, would you still have made that decision?
The point Jesus is making is that real discipleship costs. Though the central issue concerns taking up the cross, I want to focus on other costs we should be counting and relate them to stewardship. All of us have a vision of how we want to be disciples for Jesus. How many of us counted the cost of putting that vision into action? The first place that we need to fulfill the vision is in our own lives.
We desire to be people who know the Bible. We want to be people of prayer. We want to walk in the power of the Spirit, telling others about Christ. We want to worship in Spirit and truth. Those things won't just happen. It takes commitment and effort to achieve these things. It takes total dependence on the Holy Spirit to produce these things in our lives. Truly, it is easier to increase financial giving than it is to fulfill this vision.
• What is your vision for living out your commitment to Jesus Christ?
Some count the cost, and decide not to be a committed disciple. There are many others who said, "This sounds good; let's do it," and a-buildin' we went. I remind you again of the cost of fulfilling this vision in your life. It will take effort. It will take commitment. But it will also bring benefits well worth the effort.
We talk about growing the church and bringing more people into our congregations. What will that cost? Have we counted this cost? Many pastors I have known came to their churches with the understanding that the congregations wanted to grow. When the pastors started proposing new ideas, programs, and changes designed to enhance growth, they met considerable opposition and resistance.
• Would you say your church wants to grow? What will it cost?
What does growth cost? First, it will cost change in the familiar. Churches that grow are constantly adapting their programs and services in order to meet the needs of the congregation and the community, in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This undercuts the usual predictability and familiarity. We never know where the Spirit will lead next. It means we have to keep on our toes and keep in prayer so that we know where the Spirit wants us to go.
Change brings the second cost, conflict. It is rare that every change will go through without some degree of conflict, from a minor disagreement to a major falling out. I imagine most of us have seen our share of conflicts. Conflict is not necessarily bad until it becomes destructive. One way to avoid conflict is to avoid change, which means we will avoid growth. If we want growth, change and conflict are part of the cost.
Third, it will cost us the effort to accept new people as friends. Potentially, one of the biggest barriers to new people joining the church is Christians. If we stick to ourselves and don't make the effort to meet and know new people, they won't feel included. If they don't feel included and welcomed, they won't come back. This also implies that once members have been in the church for a while, they should be welcomed into leadership positions without prejudice. Any attitude of older members having preference is really contradictory to the Scripture.
There could be other costs such as parking inconvenience, choosing between the early or late service, and the increasing costs of materials needed to minister to an increasing number of members. Are we willing to pay such costs to have a growing church?
• If your church is growing, what has it cost you?
In addition to our vision for our discipleship, we have a vision for our mission to our communities. God intends for us to be the presence of Jesus to the people around us. I emphasize the importance of prayer for our cities as the first step to reaching our cities. There is the necessity of personal involvement with various ministries as the Lord leads us. Winning the city for Christ is related to Jesus' question about the approaching army. To win our cities for Christ is to engage in a spiritual warfare for the control of those cities. We are not fighting for our control, rather for the control to pass from Satan to Jesus.
• What is your mission in your town or city?
As part of our mission, churches offer various programs to build up disciples for Jesus. We have our Christian education programs for Bible study and fellowship. There are various music ministries to lead the congregation in praise and worship. We keep abreast of our opportunities to help others, whether through congregational programs or through individual effort. All of these involve personal cost for us. We may need to teach a class. We may need to serve on a board. We may need to sing in the choir or help lead in worship. Have we counted the cost of our personal service in accomplishing the mission Jesus has given us? Are we willing to pay the cost for our cities to become cities for Jesus?
• How much cost will you bear in order to reach your city for Christ?
To build the church or to win the city, it will cost money to engage in the mission we have been given. Every year at budget time we count the cost of the church's various ministries and add them up as expenses. We have to ask ourselves the cost of supporting such budgets. There is the clear expectation and need that the members will substantially support their church with their tithes and offerings. Count the cost of the tithe and its implications for your personal or family budget. Many of us may be tempted to abandon such a challenge because we think we can't afford it. That would be correct. You can't afford it. Tithing is a step of faith that relies on God to fill in the gaps.
So what will it cost to be a faithful disciple, to have a growing church, to accomplish our mission, to support financially everything we want to do? Jesus' answer is in verse 33: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33 NIV). That is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus: everything. Did we count on that when we came down the aisle or when we were baptized? Why shouldn't discipleship cost us everything? It cost Jesus all he had to purchase our salvation. We should also count the benefits and rewards as well. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so God gives back to us when we give to him. We are on the journey of discipleship that ends with eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Count the cost and the benefits. Are you willing to give everything, as Jesus did, so that you may receive your reward from God?
WWJD -- Recommit yourself to accomplish your vision and mission no matter the cost.
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
-- Luke 14:28-33 (NIV)
Jesus is making a point about discipleship. It almost seems as if Jesus was discouraging people from following him. Certainly, Jesus wants all to be saved, that is why he died on the cross for our sins. But while salvation is free, discipleship is costly.
Christians are on the journey of discipleship in Christ. We have commenced building the building. We have started the war against sin, temptation, and the devil. How many of us were encouraged to take a good look at what we were getting into? I know I wasn't told everything. I was told, "Receive Jesus into your life and you will have eternal life." I wasn't told about spiritual warfare with Satan and the continuing battle against sin. I wasn't told that living a holy lifestyle would mean wholesale changes in how I lived my life. I certainly wasn't told that I might be called into the ministry. I wasn't told about tithing, or sacrificial giving, or the things I would not be allowed to have. I wasn't told about being forced to resign my first church or about potential mistreatment by others who call themselves Christians. I wasn't told about memorizing Bible passages, hours of prayer, and telling strangers about Jesus. I wasn't told that Sunday mornings were now God's time, not mine. How many of you were told these things? I wonder, if we had really counted the cost at the beginning, would we have made the commitment to Jesus in the first place?
• If you had known the cost of following Jesus, would you still have made that decision?
The point Jesus is making is that real discipleship costs. Though the central issue concerns taking up the cross, I want to focus on other costs we should be counting and relate them to stewardship. All of us have a vision of how we want to be disciples for Jesus. How many of us counted the cost of putting that vision into action? The first place that we need to fulfill the vision is in our own lives.
We desire to be people who know the Bible. We want to be people of prayer. We want to walk in the power of the Spirit, telling others about Christ. We want to worship in Spirit and truth. Those things won't just happen. It takes commitment and effort to achieve these things. It takes total dependence on the Holy Spirit to produce these things in our lives. Truly, it is easier to increase financial giving than it is to fulfill this vision.
• What is your vision for living out your commitment to Jesus Christ?
Some count the cost, and decide not to be a committed disciple. There are many others who said, "This sounds good; let's do it," and a-buildin' we went. I remind you again of the cost of fulfilling this vision in your life. It will take effort. It will take commitment. But it will also bring benefits well worth the effort.
We talk about growing the church and bringing more people into our congregations. What will that cost? Have we counted this cost? Many pastors I have known came to their churches with the understanding that the congregations wanted to grow. When the pastors started proposing new ideas, programs, and changes designed to enhance growth, they met considerable opposition and resistance.
• Would you say your church wants to grow? What will it cost?
What does growth cost? First, it will cost change in the familiar. Churches that grow are constantly adapting their programs and services in order to meet the needs of the congregation and the community, in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This undercuts the usual predictability and familiarity. We never know where the Spirit will lead next. It means we have to keep on our toes and keep in prayer so that we know where the Spirit wants us to go.
Change brings the second cost, conflict. It is rare that every change will go through without some degree of conflict, from a minor disagreement to a major falling out. I imagine most of us have seen our share of conflicts. Conflict is not necessarily bad until it becomes destructive. One way to avoid conflict is to avoid change, which means we will avoid growth. If we want growth, change and conflict are part of the cost.
Third, it will cost us the effort to accept new people as friends. Potentially, one of the biggest barriers to new people joining the church is Christians. If we stick to ourselves and don't make the effort to meet and know new people, they won't feel included. If they don't feel included and welcomed, they won't come back. This also implies that once members have been in the church for a while, they should be welcomed into leadership positions without prejudice. Any attitude of older members having preference is really contradictory to the Scripture.
There could be other costs such as parking inconvenience, choosing between the early or late service, and the increasing costs of materials needed to minister to an increasing number of members. Are we willing to pay such costs to have a growing church?
• If your church is growing, what has it cost you?
In addition to our vision for our discipleship, we have a vision for our mission to our communities. God intends for us to be the presence of Jesus to the people around us. I emphasize the importance of prayer for our cities as the first step to reaching our cities. There is the necessity of personal involvement with various ministries as the Lord leads us. Winning the city for Christ is related to Jesus' question about the approaching army. To win our cities for Christ is to engage in a spiritual warfare for the control of those cities. We are not fighting for our control, rather for the control to pass from Satan to Jesus.
• What is your mission in your town or city?
As part of our mission, churches offer various programs to build up disciples for Jesus. We have our Christian education programs for Bible study and fellowship. There are various music ministries to lead the congregation in praise and worship. We keep abreast of our opportunities to help others, whether through congregational programs or through individual effort. All of these involve personal cost for us. We may need to teach a class. We may need to serve on a board. We may need to sing in the choir or help lead in worship. Have we counted the cost of our personal service in accomplishing the mission Jesus has given us? Are we willing to pay the cost for our cities to become cities for Jesus?
• How much cost will you bear in order to reach your city for Christ?
To build the church or to win the city, it will cost money to engage in the mission we have been given. Every year at budget time we count the cost of the church's various ministries and add them up as expenses. We have to ask ourselves the cost of supporting such budgets. There is the clear expectation and need that the members will substantially support their church with their tithes and offerings. Count the cost of the tithe and its implications for your personal or family budget. Many of us may be tempted to abandon such a challenge because we think we can't afford it. That would be correct. You can't afford it. Tithing is a step of faith that relies on God to fill in the gaps.
So what will it cost to be a faithful disciple, to have a growing church, to accomplish our mission, to support financially everything we want to do? Jesus' answer is in verse 33: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33 NIV). That is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus: everything. Did we count on that when we came down the aisle or when we were baptized? Why shouldn't discipleship cost us everything? It cost Jesus all he had to purchase our salvation. We should also count the benefits and rewards as well. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so God gives back to us when we give to him. We are on the journey of discipleship that ends with eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Count the cost and the benefits. Are you willing to give everything, as Jesus did, so that you may receive your reward from God?
WWJD -- Recommit yourself to accomplish your vision and mission no matter the cost.
