Counting the Cost

My preaching colleague and fellow Hoosier, Max Dawson, posted a piece on facebook a few months ago from his column “Pontiacs, Points, and Proverbs.”

Max is a “car guy” and loves to share various stories about cars and use them as a springboard to make a spiritual application. This one teaches a lesson that parallels one of Jesus’ parables.

Have you ever started a car project and run into a problem that made it tough to finish it? As a car guy, I’ve seen lots of cases where someone started a restoration project and couldn’t finish it.

Several years ago, I ran into a case of a 1955 Pontiac where the owner had completely disassembled the car. Hundreds of pieces of Star Chief were scattered all over his garage. It was too much for him. He gave up. He was trying to sell it. It was too much for me also. Clint Eastwood said, “Every man needs to know his limitations.” I had neither the time, money, nor inclination to finish his project. I knew my limitations.

Those many unfinished projects found in garages across America are unfinished for a reason. Typically, the guy doing the project ran out of something. Maybe he ran out of money, time, or talent. Why does that happen?

Usually, it is because the project engineer (the car guy with parts scattered all over his garage) did not count the cost. I have learned two things about most such projects. One, they almost always cost more than anticipated. Two, they almost always take more time than planned. The point is, he didn’t accurately count the cost of doing the project!

Such an unhappy state of affairs reminds me of the words of Jesus in Luke 14:28-30…

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it–lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.'”

Jesus was not really cautioning people about building towers. Rather, this was an illustration–even a warning–about becoming His disciple. The message: Count the cost of following Jesus! It will cost you something! We live in an age of “easy believism.” People tell us, “Just believe. That’s all that Jesus requires of you.” But it is not all that He requires.

In the context of the illustration, Jesus said, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). Jesus requires cross-bearing! Not the kind of thing you see where someone is dragging a cross down the road. Cross-bearing means suffering for the cause of Christ. It can mean ridicule, persecution, or even death. Read the entire context of the Master’s words (Luke 14:25-33). You may find it a bit frightening.

The tragedy of not counting the cost has nothing to do with unfinished car projects. The real tragedy is that people make some sort of pledge to follow Jesus, but then quit when trouble comes. They quit because they did not truly count the cost of following Him. (See Matthew 13:20-21). Their lives are left in disarray and disappointment.

If you are a follower of Jesus, have you truly counted the cost? What has it cost you to follow Him?

The point of Max’s story and Jesus’ parable reminds us that Christ is not interested in half-hearted, self-seeking, bargain hunting followers who are not willing to pay the full price.

The word “disciple” used by Jesus is the most common Bible name for a follower of Christ. It is used 270 times in the Gospels and the book of Acts.

Discipleship is a process, not an event. It speaks to one who is a dedicated follower. A continual learner. An ardent pupil. A committed Christian. One who is willing to be trained to be like his Master.

A true disciple of Christ has not only counted the cost, but continues to pay the price. Day by day. Week by week. Month by month. Year by year.

“In every sphere of life a man is called upon to count the cost,” wrote William Barclay. “In the introduction to the marriage ceremony according to the forms of the Church of Scotland, the minister says, ‘Marriage is not to be entered upon lightly or unadvisedly, but thoughtfully, reverently, and in the fear of God.’ A man and woman must count the cost.”

The same commitment and dedication is demanded of a Christian disciple.

And so, we repeat Max’s questions. “If you are a follower of Jesus, have you truly counted the cost? What has it cost you to follow Him?”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman