COUNT THE COST BEFORE BUILDING AND BATTLE

Counting the Cost

Christ was the One Who must count the cost and has, and therefore makes the statements we read in Luke 14:26 concerning His measurement.

He is more concerned with quality than quantity.

While on His way to the cross at Jerusalem is when He uttered the high cost of discipleship. He said to an eager, listening crowd that it was impossible for any man to be His disciple unless that man should put His Jesus claims above the highest and holiest and best things of earthly life and relationship. He spoke of hating father and mother, wife, child, brother, sister, life. He was not speaking of malice in the heart for such. He was simply indicating the fact not that low things and vulgar things are to be given up, but that high things and holy things and beautiful things, the most beautiful things of the world, the love of father, of mother, of wife, of child, of brother, of sister, and the love of life itself, if the hour shall ever strike when there is conflict between loyalty to Him and these high loves, they are to be trampled underfoot.

Second, no man can come after Him and be His disciple unless that man is prepared to take up his own cross and follow Him.

Finally, He combines the two and said, except a man renounce all that he has, he cannot be My disciple.

He uses figures of building and battle. He appealed to these people to put themselves in His place. Suppose you were in My place, which of you going to build a tower, would not count the cost? Suppose you were in My place, which of you, as a king going to war, would not be concerned with the quality of your soldiers. My terms are severe, because I want men and women as disciples who will stand by My side until the building is done, until the fight is over.

The whole story of the Bible is the story of God in human history building, and in battle. It ends in a City. The Bible is the story of God's process from the Garden to the City. The sword and the trowel as Nehemiah used as his two tools to rebuild the city.

Jesus Christ came into this world to do battle and build, and the ultimate passion of His heart is the building and the present necessity of His mission is the battle. Therefore He needs disciples who will stand by Him till the building is done, and the battle is won.