What does "first sit down and count the cost" teach about discipleship? Setting the Scene “For which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has the resources to complete it?” Jesus speaks these words while “large crowds were traveling with Him” (v. 25). He turns and clarifies what following Him truly entails, using two pictures—building a tower and a king preparing for war—to drive home the same point: serious discipleship demands thorough, honest calculation. What the Phrase Teaches About Discipleship • Deliberate Decision – Discipleship is not an impulsive emotional response; it is a conscious, informed commitment. – Just as a builder sits down to draft plans and budgets, the believer weighs what following Christ will require: surrender of self, possessions, ambitions, even relationships (vv. 26-27, 33). • Total Commitment Over Partial Enthusiasm – A half-built tower is a public monument to poor planning (v. 29). – Likewise, a half-hearted disciple brings dishonor to the name of Christ (cf. Revelation 3:15-16). • Personal Responsibility – The builder himself “first sits down”; no one else does the math for him. – Every individual must grapple personally with Jesus’ absolute claims (Matthew 16:24). • Awareness of Potential Opposition – The second illustration (vv. 31-32) shows a king calculating military strength. – Following Christ involves spiritual warfare (2 Timothy 2:3-4); advance preparation guards against retreat when pressure mounts. • Endurance, Not a Momentary Burst – Counting the cost looks beyond the groundbreaking ceremony to completion. – True discipleship runs the race to the finish line (Hebrews 12:1-3). Practical Implications for Today • Examine Motives – Ask whether Christ Himself—or personal benefit—is the driving reason for following. • Hold Possessions Loosely – Jesus ends the section: “Any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple” (v. 33). Ownership becomes stewardship. • Embrace Sacrifice as Normal – Cross-bearing (v. 27) is not extraordinary Christianity; it is baseline Christianity (Romans 12:1). • Prepare for Opposition – Social, familial, or vocational costs may arise (Luke 9:57-62). Resolve in advance to remain faithful. • Finish Well – Keep eternity in view (Philippians 3:13-14). The builder’s joy is completion, not commencement. Supporting Passages • Luke 9:23 — “If anyone desires to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” • Philippians 3:8 — Paul “counts all things as loss” for Christ. • 2 Timothy 2:3 — “Endure hardship with us, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” • Hebrews 10:38-39 — We “are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed.” • Revelation 2:10 — “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” In Summary “First sit down and count the cost” underscores that discipleship is wholehearted, thoughtful, and lifelong. It demands informed surrender now so that, by grace, the disciple stands firm to the end and brings glory to the Master whose call is worth every sacrifice. |
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