Count The Cost
Over the past few weeks, I’ve continued to listen to Dave Ramsey (a financial teacher), and I learn wonderful lessons and practical applications concerning finances. I have been a little obsessive to be honest but it was the jolt I needed. I asked God for direction and he sent Dave. Concerning my own financial life and goals, I have written down my plans based on my current situation and I even wrote a budget for where I believe I am going in my financial future. I calculated the taxes so I would have a more accurate number when creating the budget. I know to some this may sound crazy but for me it is CRAZY FAITH! I want to be a good steward of the little I have now and the more to come! While listening to Dave one day, he mentioned this Scripture about counting the cost before you start building something as we make decisions for the future.
But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, “There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!” Luke 14: 28-30 NLT
When I was originally prepping for this post I was going to talk about finances and planning. However, the Lord impressed on me to read Luke 14 in its entirety. I was reminded that the example of counting the cost extends further than building a home or a business. Jesus was telling us there is a cost to follow Him. There are some things we will have to give up to follow Him. We may be ridiculed or misunderstood. We may even be killed because of our faith. (I know this isn’t a reality for those of us in the West but it is for saints around the world.) Our ultimate purpose is to pursue Jesus every day. He desires us to give everything we have to persistently seek Him. When this is our reality, we find ourselves in the center of His perfect will. We must choose to be obedient to the call of God for our lives, yielding our will to His. This means we are saying “yes” to being uncomfortable. We are saying “yes” to being an instrument for His use. We are saying “yes” to being Audacious Arrows!! This life with Jesus requires our daily “YES.”
So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:33 NLT
The truth is, what He has for us is better than anything we could have attained apart from Him. “Giving up everything” enables us to receive the amazing things He has planned for us. I don’t believe He is literally telling us to get rid of everything we have to go live on the street at tell people about Jesus. I think it is more about our heart posture towards Him and how we live our lives. He wants it all and He deserves it!
Take a moment to recommit to following Jesus-completely. Give Him the areas you have still been holding onto. Give Him everything and ask Him to help you walk daily as His disciple.
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:10 AMP
Until Next Time,
Live Audaciously!
Kay Naomi