Every great leader has a strategic aim. Chess players out think opponents to “checkmate.” Coaches design plays for a big WIN. Entertainment executives gain the loyalty of their desired demographic for ratings. Commander’s strategize for leverage, power, and to win wars should they ensue. Jesus also has a strategy: to fill the world with disciples who will love, teach and establish His Kingdom rule on the earth. In order to fulfill His strategy, our Lord needed followers who would understood the overall aim – to increase His government and peace in the world. Isa. 9:7 They had to reckon with whether they were prepared to pay a price for a strategic aim that would affect their personal comfort, relationships, possessions, and might cost their lives! Luke 14:25-33:
Jesus admonished them to think things through before signing up to be His followers. It would be shameful for them to begin with the Master in excitement, but then quit on the mission once things got hard – which He promised they would. I’ve often wished we would tell people what they were signing up for when they came to ‘join church’ – I’m not sure how mega they would be…
28 “But don’t be
gin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.Whatever endeavor you are pursuing (ministry, education, marriage, work, children) FIRST calculate the cost. Invest the time to make a plan and ask yourself the hard questions. Is it worth it to your life, family and future? Do you have enough spiritual and natural resources to see it through to the end? If you’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus – the cost is EVERYTHING you own, EVERY relationship you have, and YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
