Reading passage: Luke 14:25-35
Luke 14:28-29 (NIV) 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you”
Ramu was born poor. He had a small job in a grocery shop. All his life, he dreamt of making a house of his own. He bought a piece of land with all his savings. With the money borrowed from many sources, he laid a foundation for a three-bedroom house. However, when the foundation work was over, he did not have money to carry on the work. He fell into utter poverty as he lost his job in the meantime. His wife and children were starving. As he failed to pay rent for many months, he had to leave the house he was staying in! Finally, he had to move to a tent near the “foundation” he laid for his dream house; and that too with the help of some good people. Those who were passing by looked at the tent and whispered; “How sad, this man did not sit down and count the cost before he laid the foundation!”
Becoming a disciple of Jesus is like building a tower, or a house. You need to lose bricks, cement, wood and sweat to make a house. Likewise, you need to lose many of your comforts, possessions and positions to make your eternal home a reality.
Jesus said, “If you would follow me, sit down and consider the cost you have to pay. Your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters may leave you because of your faith in me. I want to see that you are putting me first, not your parents or spouse or siblings! (v. 25&26). Likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple (v. 33).”
You need to bear these costs if you want to be a disciple of Jesus. Nothing can be built without losing something. However, it is worth it! What is lost is nothing when we compare it with what we stand to gain.
Prayer: Lord, I decide to take up my cross, deny myself and follow you. You are my Lord. You are my everything. Help me to understand that the things I lose here is an eternal investment. AMEN.
For further reading: Mt. 10:32-39; Luke 19:1-10
