“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”
– Luke 14:28 (ESV)

Everything costs something! How many times have we heard our athletes say something like, “Coach, I wish I had taken my grades more seriously,” or “If I had only worked harder in the weight room, I might have been able to play in college.” Unfortunately, it’s also common to hear coaches say that the profession cost them their marriage and their family. Life can be a tough teacher! The cost of having the chance to play on the next level often comes down to paying the price in the classroom and the weight room. The cost of maintaining a healthy family life and marriage is finding a way to balance work and home. All too often, we fail to count the cost of achieving our goals. We glamorize the end result without realizing the day-to-day struggle involved. We are great at starting off in a blaze, only to fizzle out as time goes by. A half-hearted effort seldom produces success and usually is the source of great regret.

Jesus reminds us that there is also a cost in following Him. He compared the Christian life to building a tower. The first thing a logical builder would do is to estimate the cost of construction. If there are not enough resources to complete the project, don’t start it. How foolish would it look if we only laid the foundation and then stopped? Jesus uses this illustration to drive home a very important message. If we want to follow Jesus, we had better give a great deal of thought to the cost of abandoning our life to live a life for Him. It’s a daily battle and a half-hearted effort won’t get it done.

Heavenly Father, teach me that everything has a cost. Give me wisdom to weigh that cost before committing to anything. Strengthen me to give my all in serving You and those You put in my life today. In Jesus name, Amen.