The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin the construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if he has enough money to pay the bills? Otherwise he might complete only the foundations before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh!” Luke 14:28-29 (Living Bible)
“Building a tower” applies to many areas of our lives, whether it is an individual decision, a family decision, or a leadership decision that affects millions of people. The biblical principle is to figure out if you have what you will need to finish something before you start, and taking into consideration all the consequences to you and to others.
The Lord warns us to count the cost because He knows the cost when we don’t. In this country there are 100 divorces per hour, with a divorce rate of 41% for first marriages, and up to 60% for second marriages. Credit card debt in our country threatens to ruin family finances, and even marriages, considering how long one stays in debt paying off one card. A $5,000.00 balance will take 24 years to pay back with minimum payments, and that is if no further charges are made on the card during that time! Our government isn’t immune to not counting the costs either: healthcare is the big concern now, and even the IRS admits it isn’t sure of the real cost of health care to the American people. There are many examples in government of not counting the cost, including laws that are too broad and tend to group too many people into one category.
Counting the cost isn’t something we do just for ourselves, it should be for the good of others who will be affected by our choices. And government leadership has a large responsibility in this area, affecting the whole country with their decisions.
Our God is a God of second chances and He stands ready to help us when we look to Him and acknowledge that we need Him. He can make all things new, and through prayer, the guidance of His Spirit, and “counting the cost” before we make decisions in life, we are sure to complete what we start, have the respect of others, and His joy!
Nice article. Lots of good information that makes one think. And praise Jesus that we have a God who is a God that provides second chances or we would all be in trouble. 🙂
This cliche came to mind as I was reading: “Look before you leap.” It is a nice way to drive home the point of counting the cost before proceeding.
Well said and supported. It’s so easy to fall into the trap and “charge it” instead of asking God for direction first whether we should even be purchasing the item in the first place. In addition, even when we ask God, sometimes our desire of “gotta have it” is greater than our desire to listen to God’s gentle “Not now” Thank you Lisa for writing this article.