The Cost of Doing Business
May 4, 2009
Luke 14:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?"
When making any major decision in life, it is wise to first sit down and estimate the pros and cons of the decision. You take all the facts and resources at hand, and calculate the potential future based upon the action you are about to take. It is smart to ask yourself, "Am I willing to live with the consequences of my decision? Or, "Can I deal with the results for the rest of my life?" If the answer is "no," it is best to make a different decision. This is true in business, life, and even in following the Lord.
Jesus was very clear that becoming a Christian, a true follower and disciple of Christ, would not come without a cost. He said, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." There was a rich man who came to Jesus and asked what it would take to gain eternal life. Jesus told him that he had to first sell all he had and give it to the poor. That man was sad, because he had great wealth. He wasn't willing to part with his money and so that man never followed the Lord. It was too costly for him.
Another rich man had all his money taken from him. All his riches and wealth were stolen and his children killed. This man's name was Job. Job had a great response to following the Lord, despite the cost. Job said, "Though he slay me, yet I will [follow] him." Job was standing firm in the cost of following God. He knew the cost, and wasn't going to falter when the price got too high. Fast forward from Job a few thousand years, and you see Jesus dying on the cross to follow God. Jesus was living out and fulfilling the words that Job spoke, "though he slay me." Jesus WAS slain for following God.
Christian, you have already found out that following the Lord will allow you to sacrifice many, many things in this world. But those things that you might give up to follow Him are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to you in Heaven. Jesus didn't lie to you; He told you that following Him would cost you a few of the creature comforts of this world, maybe more. The question now is, has the cost become too high for you or are you willing to keep going? You've already chosen to follow the Lord; now continue to calculate the cost and realize that it WILL be worth it someday. I promise.
I hope you are willing and able to say, "Though He slay me, yet I will follow Him!"
1. What has it cost you in life to follow the Lord?
2. Does that cost make you want to quit or keep following Him?
3. How can you take up your cross to follow Him, even though it is costly?
Add. Scriptures for Study: Job 13:15, Matt 16:24-25, Matt 8:18-21, Matt 19:16, Mark 10:12, Luke 9:57-58, Luke 14:25-29
May 4, 2009
Luke 14:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?"
When making any major decision in life, it is wise to first sit down and estimate the pros and cons of the decision. You take all the facts and resources at hand, and calculate the potential future based upon the action you are about to take. It is smart to ask yourself, "Am I willing to live with the consequences of my decision? Or, "Can I deal with the results for the rest of my life?" If the answer is "no," it is best to make a different decision. This is true in business, life, and even in following the Lord.
Jesus was very clear that becoming a Christian, a true follower and disciple of Christ, would not come without a cost. He said, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." There was a rich man who came to Jesus and asked what it would take to gain eternal life. Jesus told him that he had to first sell all he had and give it to the poor. That man was sad, because he had great wealth. He wasn't willing to part with his money and so that man never followed the Lord. It was too costly for him.
Another rich man had all his money taken from him. All his riches and wealth were stolen and his children killed. This man's name was Job. Job had a great response to following the Lord, despite the cost. Job said, "Though he slay me, yet I will [follow] him." Job was standing firm in the cost of following God. He knew the cost, and wasn't going to falter when the price got too high. Fast forward from Job a few thousand years, and you see Jesus dying on the cross to follow God. Jesus was living out and fulfilling the words that Job spoke, "though he slay me." Jesus WAS slain for following God.
Christian, you have already found out that following the Lord will allow you to sacrifice many, many things in this world. But those things that you might give up to follow Him are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to you in Heaven. Jesus didn't lie to you; He told you that following Him would cost you a few of the creature comforts of this world, maybe more. The question now is, has the cost become too high for you or are you willing to keep going? You've already chosen to follow the Lord; now continue to calculate the cost and realize that it WILL be worth it someday. I promise.
I hope you are willing and able to say, "Though He slay me, yet I will follow Him!"
1. What has it cost you in life to follow the Lord?
2. Does that cost make you want to quit or keep following Him?
3. How can you take up your cross to follow Him, even though it is costly?
Add. Scriptures for Study: Job 13:15, Matt 16:24-25, Matt 8:18-21, Matt 19:16, Mark 10:12, Luke 9:57-58, Luke 14:25-29
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