9/29/25 Counting the Cost

Takeaway: Discipleship requires sacrifice and commitment.

Opening Prayer (Monday)

Heavenly Father, as a new week begins, I seek Your presence. Fill me with Your Spirit, renew my mind, and guide my steps. May I walk in faith and purpose today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

When Jesus speaks in Luke 14:27–30 about the necessity of counting the cost, His words are both sobering and clarifying. He paints the picture of a man preparing to build a tower who must first sit down and calculate whether he has enough resources to complete the project. In the same way, He says, those who would follow Him must be ready to weigh the demands of discipleship and embrace the sacrifices that come with it. This teaching reminds us that discipleship is not a half-hearted endeavor or a casual commitment. To follow Christ is to walk a path that requires endurance, and a willingness to prioritize Him above all else. It is an invitation to recognize that the life of faith is costly, but it is also infinitely rewarding, because what we give up pales in comparison to what we gain in Him.

As we think about stewardship in light of this passage, the call to “count the cost” resonates deeply. Stewardship is not simply about how much we give of our time, talents, or treasures; it is about whether we are willing to embrace the lifestyle of sacrifice that Jesus calls us to. Just as the man building the tower had to make intentional plans, so too must we consider how our lives reflect the kingdom values of generosity, service, and trust. Counting the cost means acknowledging that following Christ may challenge our comfort, and require us to give more of ourselves than we might initially expect. But it is in this very surrender that we find our way to live for the purposes of God.

Counting the cost also calls us to a realism about discipleship. He warns against the danger of starting without finishing. Our commitments are not merely seasonal or based on convenience, but rooted in faithfulness and endurance. It is easy to pledge our lives to Christ when enthusiasm is high, but true discipleship is shown in the daily decisions to keep walking, keep giving, keep serving, even when it is hard, or costly.

For the church, stewardship season is not only about meeting budgets but about forming hearts that are willing to embrace Christ’s call. It invites us to examine where we place our security in wealth and self-sufficiency, or whether we trust the One who asks us to lay all these things down. Counting the cost is not meant to discourage us but to remind us of the seriousness of our calling and the surpassing worth of Christ Himself.

Questions

When you think of Jesus’ words about “counting the cost,” what sacrifices come to mind in your own walk of discipleship?

In what areas of life are you tempted to make a “half-hearted” commitment rather than a full surrender to Christ?

Application

Take time to prayerfully “count the cost” of your discipleship. Reflect on one area of your life where Christ may be calling you to greater sacrifice and deeper trust. Make a specific plan, as the man building the tower did, to intentionally live into that calling. Let this be a tangible way of practicing stewardship.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, You call me to follow You with my whole heart, not holding anything back. Teach me to count the cost with honesty, and to walk in the joy of faithfulness, knowing that what I gain in You is far greater than what I give up. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

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