Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?… Our Lord on purpose mentioned a tower rather than any other building, perhaps to signify that the top of our spiritual building must reach to heaven, or otherwise it will be vain to build. A Christian, then, is a man that builds a tower, a noble building, not a cottage, and therefore should count the cost. I. WHAT SORT OF A TOWER THE CHRISTIAN BUILDS. 1. A tower is no small building, but a noble structure; and so is the believer's spiritual building. (1) Infinite wisdom is the contriver of it. (2) The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of it. 2. It is a noble building, or a famous tower, because the design of it is to preserve the soul from all its enemies, and from all dangers whatsoever, to eternal life. 3. This spiritual building may be called a tower, because a Christian is a soldier, and this building is to be his fortress; and if he builds on Christ, or rightly upon the only foundation, he need not fear all the gunshot of Satan, sin, the flesh, and the world, though he must expect to be battered severely by these enemies. 4. It may be called a tower, because the Christian builds for another world. He must gradually proceed until he reaches heaven. II. WHY IS A CHRISTIAN SAID TO BUILD THIS TOWER? 1. Because he is to believe in Jesus Christ, i.e., to build on Him. 2. But note that it is God who finds all the materials. III. EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD CONSIDER THE MATTER SO WELL AS TO COUNT THE COST. Why? 1. Because it will be a very costly building to him. (1) He must give up all his cursed sins and lusts, though as dear to him in times past as a right hand or eye. (2) He must expect it will cost him the loss of whatsoever he once accounted gain. (3) He must part with all his former companions, and expect they will mock and deride him, and may be his own wife also. 2. Because great storms may rise, and floods come, and beat upon his high tower; and he should count the damage he may sustain in such storms. 3. Because he is not able either to begin, nor to build, or lay one stone by his own strength; and if he knows not this, or does not utterly despair of any power or ability of his own, he will never be able to finish, and then men "will mock him," etc. 4. He must account how rich, how strong, and able he is in Jesus Christ; and if He knows that Christ is his strength, he counts the cost aright; and if he depends wholly, constantly, and believingly upon Jesus Christ, he need not fear but he shall have wherewith to finish this famous tower, i.e., the salvation of his precious soul. Application: 1. This reprehends all rash and inconsiderate persons, who, through some sudden flash of zeal (which may prove like a lava flood) set out in a visible profession of Christ and the gospel. 2. This may inform us of the reason there are so many who grow cold, and soon falter, and fall off, or decline in their zeal and seeming love to Christ, His truth, and people. They counted not the cost — what corruptions they must mortify, what temptations they must withstand, what reproaches they must expect to meet with, what enemies they may find, and what relations they may enrage and stir up against them. 3. Let all from hence be exhorted to count the cost before they begin to build, and not expose themselves by their inconsiderateness to the reproach of men, either to the grief of the godly, or to the contempt and scorn of the wicked. 4. Yet let none from hence be discouraged, or decline closing with Christ, or with His people; for if they are sincere and gracious persons, they will understand that the almighty power of God is engaged to help them. 5. Count also all the external charge, which a visible profession of Christ may expose you to; for the interest of Christ, and the charge of His Church, must be borne. 6. How great is the work of a Christian. No lazy life. 7. Let all learn on what foundation to build, and not refuse the chief cornerstone. Depend wholly upon God in Christ. His money pays for all. Yet you shall not miscarry for want of money to finish, if in all your wants you go to Him by faith and prayer. (B. Keach.) Parallel Verses KJV: For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? |
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