Friday, October 18, 2024

The Parable of Counting the Cost

Pavel Poloz was exiled from Russia in 1987 for being a Christian. He said this about American Christianity, “In Russia, Christians are tested by hardship, but in America you are tested by freedom. And testing by freedom is much harder. Nobody pressures you about your religion. So you relax and are not so concentrated on Christ, on His teaching, how He wants you to live." 

-Pavel Poloz, exiled from Russia in 1987, Moody Monthly, April, 1989.

Millions of the great Christians throughout history, from the first century AD were tested through persecution. They faced imprisonment or death if they did not renounce their faith in Christ. 

What’s amazing is that so many stood firm through those persecutions. But in the United States we face a different challenge. We face the test of freedom, of abundance. 

The average American spends 4 hours and 37 minutes per day on their smart phones. Gen Z, that’s the younger generation spends an average of 6 hours and 5 minutes per day on their phones. 

I confess brothers and sisters, I will wake up on my day off, and spend endless hours on my laptop, or my smart phone, and I find it sometimes very difficult to pull myself away from it to pray, or read the word, or do something productive. This is the battle we face. It’s not persecution (yet), its endless distraction. 

Believe it or not brothers and sisters, this statement is fact: These distractions make war on our souls. And hang up before the pit of hell. Lord help us. 

Jesus was walking among great crowds of people who had begun following him. And he seemed to know he needed to challenge them. They wanted the benefits, but they didn’t understand the challenges of being his disciple. 

In Luke 14:27 we see Jesus speaking to the crowds. He has just challenged them, that being a disciple of Jesus must come before even their families. 

Then he said this: “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” 

What is the cross that you must carry? Here’s a hint, it’s not the punishment for your sins. Jesus has already carried that cross for you. But, there are temptations we all face. And there are ministries we are called to. 

I think bearing your cross each day comes down to two things: First, it’s guarding against the sins of the past coming back. 

What sins are you most weak to? For me, it’s drinking, lust, pride, and selfish ambition. For you it might be something completely different. Maybe for you it’s violent anger, unforgiveness, and faction. Or maybe it’s envy of what others have, or a tendency toward depression. Maybe it’s murder, or theft. 

It’s the thing God says through Jesus: Carry your cross. Keep that weakness in check.  

That’s the first part. Second part is this. 

What has God called you to do? For me, it’s being a minister. Sometimes I love it. It’s amazing. Other days I really struggle and just really don’t want to write the sermon or try to give it, or wrestle with the budget, or social services, or managing the staff. 

God has called you as well. What has God called you to? Some days you’ll love it, other days it’ll feel a bit heavy.

Thankfully, Jesus has also said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The reason it’s easy and light is because Jesus has already carried the brunt of it, when he went to the cross for us. 

Next in verse 28, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

So first Jesus tells us to carry our cross, next, he connects it with the concept of planning to build something. So the idea here is taking the idea of carrying our cross, and projecting it into the future. 

Yes, the Christian life is one day at a time. That’s wise. However, there should also be an aspect of planning. I do live my life one day at a time, but I also have a calendar in my office where I plan dates and times months into the future. 

Jesus is saying the Christian life is like a building a tower. Think of someone building a tower. They would build it one level at a time slowly upward. 

This parable is called “Counting the Cost.” 

So during this service we are looking into the future, and considering all it will take to be a disciple of Jesus, for the rest of our lives. That’s a big look. So, let’s try to stay calm about it. And not overwhelm ourselves.

At the same time, if you want to live a Christian life, if you want to go to heaven, you need to count the cost. 

I worry that many of us here have not fully counted the cost, and looked into the future, and considered all it will take, to live a successful Christian life. 

So let’s do that. 

Look into your future. What would it look like fifty years from now? You faithfully followed Jesus all those years. You kept yourself from sin. You raised your children to know Jesus and to follow Jesus. You used your money to honor Christ. You cultivated a rich prayer life. You made it your life mission to know the Bible. You made the Bible your roadmap for life on planet Earth. You plotted your marriage to resist the temptation toward affairs and pornography. You fought for your relationship with God by resisting distractions like television, social media, and overworking. You built a life upon the rock of Jesus Christ, and as a result, you grew to be an old man, or an old woman, full of days, and entirely devoted to Christ. 

That’s what I long for by the way. I want to look back and say wow, I really did follow Jesus, keep him first, love him totally. An old man, gray hairs, thinking, wow it’s really true. 

Now, that will feel overwhelming and hard if your looking into the future thinking about your own ability. Because in your own ability you could never bring that about. You would fail.

Good thing you won’t be alone on this journey. Jesus Christ will be with you every step of the way, guiding you along the pathway. 

So, we picture a future where Jesus is with us now, will be with us every day ahead, and is facilitating the building process. 

At the same time, the main focus remains, you are the builder, count the cost, what will it take? 

Well, we don’t fully know what it will take. In fact it’s often said, God does us a mercy by not telling us what it will take. So, I think what Jesus is saying here is, it takes commitment. 

Commitment says I’m in for anything. I’m completely devoted. And I’m willing to face any challenge for my walk with Christ. 

But what happens if we don’t count the cost? We assume, this will be a cakewalk, we get arrogant, we don’t take precautions. 

Jesus tells us what may happen: Luke 14:29-30, “Otherwise, when he has laid a 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.”

I’ve been walking with Jesus now for almost twelve years. And many people in my hometown watched very carefully when I went from sinner to saved. And I’m sure many of them waited and are still waiting for the other show to drop, that it was all just a scam. And I want to make sure that day never comes. 

I remember growing up we had neighbors down the road who had a house that still had exposed siding. And for years my mom and dad used to joke that some day they’ll get it finished. But they never did. In fact I visited my hometown recently, and it was still not done. 

Jesus says, if we don’t count the cost we may end up like this situation, where someone tried to build a tower, but they didn’t have the necessary funds and materials. And then the tower sat incomplete, half a tower, and I’m sure eventually crumbled. 

The antidote to this disaster is a firm commitment. How does commitment work? 

Commitment grows from small victories. Our commitment grows when we don’t give up through a trial. Commitment grows when we turn to Jesus and pray when we’re struggling. Commitment grows as we seek God in small group and church settings. Commitment grows as we seek godly counsel. 

Commitment dies through small compromises. Commitment begins to die as we live in secret sins. Commitment begins to die as we forsake fellowshipping with other believers. 

Our actions build, or they tear down. The rock is Jesus. Build on the rock. And all will be well. 

What does it mean in essence? Taking the teachings of Jesus from the page and putting them into action in our lives. 

Another parable is telling, it starts like this, from Matthew 7:24-25, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

The life you build as a Christian will be built on Christ. Not grace, but on Christ himself. Too many churches teach a grace-heavy message. But here we focus on the words of Jesus. The Apostle Paul’s letters are built upon the foundation of Christ. We don’t build on Paul here, we build on Christ’s words. 

All this building begs the question, what are we building? It’s all well and good to tell people of the metaphor of building a tower or a house, but what does that actually mean? 

Your building is your life. The foundation is Jesus Christ. And everything you do each day is building the house/tower. 

God is there through all of it, directing your construction efforts. You will sense His nudges in different directions. Follow His leading, and Jesus will weave the strands of your life into a beautiful tapestry. 

Let me make this very clear: You are not building on your own. Jesus loves you so completely. He loves you dearly, as if you were the only human who ever existed. And you can hear from Him everyday. He will direct you through His Spirit, toward what is right. Learn to carefully listen for His leading. His love will guide you beautifully, if you let Him. 

Every time you read your Bible, every time you pray, every time you listen to a Christian podcast or Spirit inspired sermon, or help someone with a flat tire, or attend a conference, or work hard at your schooling or your job, unto God, you are building on that foundation of Christ. 

Yet notice also, that the building will be tested. Rain came, streams rose, wind blew, but it did not fall, because it was built on the rock. It had the right foundation. 

The parable finishes this way, in verses 26-27, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

A second scenario indicates someone who listens a lot, but doesn’t actually apply it. Their house came down with a great crash when tested, because the teachings of Jesus were heard, but never applied. 

“Are you saying that could be me?” Yes. This is your life. Take it seriously. The world tells us it’s some pointless game. It’s not, it’s a gift from God. And your actions matter. 

How committed are you to the Master? Notice that Jesus indicates it’s not enough to simply hear his words. The real challenge is putting His words into action. 

Many committed Christians come to a struggle in life that causes them to leave behind Christianity. What event in your life might be too much? 

If we build our lives on the rock that is Jesus, and center our actions, our lifestyle on the teachings of Jesus, then when the storms come and beat against us, we will not fall. We will stand the test.

Did you know, this parable comes at the very end of the greatest sermon ever preached, the sermon on the mount. 

What matters most about everything Jesus taught? That we put it into practice through a steadfast commitment. Otherwise, none of it will matter. Someone can preach the most beautiful sermon imaginable but if we don’t apply it, it matters little. 

I want to draw in one more scripture. It’s from 1st Corinthians 3:10-15. It says this: 

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames." -1st Corinthians 3:10-15

My goal is that you would be a wise builder, that you would take this Christian life seriously, and apply the teachings of Jesus. 

It’s very easy friends, hear me on this one, to just show up to church, and think that’s enough, and kind of fall in with other church goers, who are not really taking this Christian thing too seriously. Don’t assume just because others are doing it that it means you’re safe in lukewarmness. It’s not true. 

Let the Spirit of God convict you. And make a commitment today. All of this today has been a challenging message. But it’s a true message. Let all the uncomfortable emotions that this might be drawing up, lead you toward Christ. 

If you feel convicted right now, come to the altar and surrender to Jesus. Remember the song this morning, “I surrender all.” You can’t do it, but if you invite Jesus to lead your life, and and if you surrender your heart to Him completely, he will guide you to build as a wise builder. 

The Blessing: If we count the cost and build upon the rock of Jesus our work will yield great reward.

The Challenge: Building our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ demands the most firm commitment to acting out what Jesus said.


Next Steps:

A. To live the parable of the wise builder is to write a journal of your walk with Jesus to learn and grow from past experiences.

B. To live the parable of the wise builder is to take notes during sermons and bible study.

C. To live the parable of the wise builder is to make a plan for personal growth. 


Discussion Questions: 

1. Share a time when your faith was tested.

2. How has God grown you in the last few years?

3. What actions build commitment?

4. What actions erode commitment? 

5. Think of yourself at the end of your life: What would the best outcome look like?