LUKE 14:28-30 COUNT THE COST OF BUILDING ON THE ROCK

COUNT THE COST

OF BUILDING ON THE ROCK

LUKE 14:28-30

Susie: Jesus told the crowd that following Him required extreme devotion, a love even greater than the love for one’s closest family members. Although God’s grace is free and impossible to earn, there is a cost to being a disciple of Christ. Jesus illustrates that concept in this passage.

Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Susie: We have a dear friend who is a builder. He has employees who estimate the cost of any project before he puts in a bid to build it. They must consider the cost of quality materials, equipment, and labor (including office staff). They must calculate the time commitment the project will involve and whether that will negatively impact other projects he is engaged in. There is much planning involved before the actual building begins. He would be a poor contractor indeed if he could not finish the job and finish it well!

Susan: But what is the cost of discipleship? EVERYTHING! Nothing is ours if we are committed to Jesus. It is all His, and we just manage it on His behalf . . .

Susie: . . . and according to His instructions rather than our own idea of how to manage it.

Susan: If the Lord asks for even a blessing that He has bestowed on us to be returned to Him, the correct response is to turn it over willingly.

Susie: Salvation is by grace alone, absolutely free because we could not possibly afford to earn it. However, turning our lives over to Him is recognizing His complete sovereign control over us as our King. Following Him is costly.

Susan: However, Jesus Himself is the foundation of our building, our life standing firm in His grace. When we surrender to Him, He demands all we have and all we are; but in return He provides the materials we need to successfully build a life that glorifies God.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Matthew 7:24-25 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Susie: All that we build spiritually in life begins with the total surrender and self-sacrifice of all that we have and all that we are. That is the cost of discipleship. Even so, the ultimate reward of belonging to Jesus far exceeds any price we pay while journeying here on earth in anticipation of the day our journey ends here and begins in the glorious presence of our Lord.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Ponder this and Apply it: Count the cost. The cost of discipleship is high: we must surrender all we own, all we love, and all we are to the will of God. We must give up pet sins, prized possessions, and even important people if called to do so. However, as noted in a previous lesson, the return on investment is better than any 401K, CD, or IRA. Are you ready to trade everything to the Lord to receive back peace in this life and paradise in the next? Ponder what sacrifices the Lord is calling you to make, then make them wholeheartedly by trusting that our loving Father works all things for the good of those whom He has chosen, those who love Him (Romans 8:28)