Counting The Cost

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" 
Luke 14:28 (NIV)

Have you ever purchased something without realizing its true cost to your life?

Even though the price for a $100,000 Tesla is the same for both me and Elon Musk, the cost weighs far heavier on my finances than his. There's a critical difference between price and cost that Jesus wants you to understand. When you follow Him, the price is the same for everyone—complete surrender—but what that means in your specific life will be unique to you.

Jesus uses the illustration of building a tower to explain discipleship. Before starting construction, a wise builder calculates whether they can finish what they begin. Too many of us are like half-completed towers—we serve, give, and attend church but eventually quit building because we aren't prepared for the cost.

The tragedy is seeing unfinished towers everywhere—believers who run one lap of the race and quit. Maybe you feel like a half-finished tower yourself—spiritual disciplines abandoned, relationships strained, faith that wavers under pressure. These incomplete areas aren't just disappointments; they're opportunities for Jesus to show His power in your weakness.

Here’s the good news: Jesus doesn't ask you to build alone. He provides everything you need to complete what He's called you to be. 

The question isn't whether you can afford discipleship—it's whether you're willing to let Him finish what He's started in you.

What parts of your Christian life have you left unfinished? Maybe you stopped serving, giving, or growing in certain ways. Today, make a fresh commitment to let Jesus continue His work in you. 

And what if counting the cost feels overwhelming right now? When He asks you to give something up, He always provides the strength to let it go. Trust Him—He'll help you count any cost worth paying.

Prayer: Father, I praise You for Your faithful work in me. When I've abandoned what You've called me to build, forgive me. Help me count the cost and then trust You to complete what You've begun in me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.