Have you Counted the Cost of Following Jesus
Updated: Aug 28
Have you counted the cost of following Jesus?
Today: counting the cost. Contractors love to dream big.
Hard to deliver. 28% average cost overrun. Comic.
Some of the worst in history:
Sydney Opera House (1959): $7M estimated. $102M final.
(4 years planned, 14 years total)
Montreal Olympic Stadium (1976): C$40M. C$836M (20x!)
What does it cost to follow Jesus? Before you follow—know
the cost.
Luke 14:25-27 (family, cross)
Luke 14:28-30: Tower: built to guard a vineyard/house.
Foundation.
Background: Herod Antipas: one of the three building
projects he accomplished during his 35 year reign were the
fortifications in Sepphoris, only three miles away from
Nazareth. It’s likely Joseph would have worked there.
Nearby were two rock quarries: Kefar Kenna and Khirbet
Cana. 90% of construction was with stone.
Jesus grew up a (teknon’s) contractor’s son: he knew the
need to prepare the costs. Twice: also Luke 20:17.
The Jews knew well the cost of construction. Taxes spiked
to 20-50% under the reign of Herod the Great. Greatest
builder in the history of Israel: five fortresses, the second
temple. Jews loved the temple. Hated taxes.
Developing world construction. Rocky Point -- has many unfinished buildings.
The rich young man: what you want! Mark 10:17-22.
Run after him and lessen. Descriptive v. prescriptive.
Grace is free, but it costs us everything.
Not an optimized life "the life you always wanted." Not a cheap salesman.
What is it going to cost?
Repentance: me: giving up pastoring. Angel: homeless in the streets of Princeton. Defending myself. Control.
Reputation.
Luke 14:28-3-
1. Count the cost. Comfort. Respect. Control. Money. Reputation. Friendships. Suffering. Jesus counted the cross. Heaven for us.
2. Pay the cost: Matthew 13:44; treasure. Sell everything.
Don't delay. Give away so little. Get: Christ, character, inheritance. Security.
Release your will to God's will. Our plans are so small. Jeus paid the cost.
3. Trust the Master Craftsman
God is the master craftsman: Ephesians 2:10. Philippians 1:6: the master
Craftsman has no incomplete jobs.