Count the Cost

And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him. (Luke 14:27-29 KJV)

Jesus told us very plainly to count the cost of whatever we decide to do. When Jesus gave the short lesson cited above, he intended for us to understand the weight of our decisions. Jesus did not speak in this manner to scare us off. On the contrary, Jesus communicated to encourage us. Jesus was always upfront with everyone, and it was always his intent to share the business side of his ministry and his life.

Within church ministries, we often assume that everything happens by osmosis. Or, we may think that people gather together and put together a church. However, when God wants his church to be built, he commissions us. And when God calls us to do anything, there’s a cost to accepting his commission. God’s commission will require so much from us that, at times, we may doubt that we can complete the task.

In God’s Word, he states, “to whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12: 48). This goes along with counting the cost. Before God provides his blessings and gifts to us, he has already considered the cost. The more God gives us—ministry, a business, children, a spouse, and people to minister to, God expects us to give more of ourselves over to who and what he has given us. The more God fills your cup, the more sacrifices you will need to make.

Many people say yes to an opportunity if it makes them feel good at the moment, but when it comes time to give themselves to whatever they agreed to, they find it easier to go with their feelings of regret (their flesh) and back out of the commitment. They fail to keep their word. Not only is this disappointing to those they are letting down, but this is not pleasing to God.

God made it very clear in the Old Testament that when you give your word, which is making a promise/covenant, you are to hold to your side of the deal. God took covenants very seriously and still does. After you’ve broken a covenant or two, people will see you as untrustworthy or even as a liar. Your pattern has proven to be inconsistent. When people perceive that you lack integrity, they no longer want to be in a relationship with you, whether business or personal.

We need God’s grace for pretty much everything we do. Sometimes, we even need God’s grace to go to the grocery store. God can and will give us the grace to do what he needs us to do. What I love about God is that he is so loving, he anoints us with the grace to do things we want to do. We still have room to do his will along with things we have on our plates (when what we do does not interfere with his will). What’s so profound and loving about God is that he wants us to ask him for permission. He wants us to seek him out of love and respect, to say, “God, if it is your will, then please allow me to do such-and-such.”

I remember a season when I would volunteer for things, then back out of them at the last minute or just not show up. This was years ago. Eventually, I got tired of it. I told myself that I could not keep lying to people. My heart was sincere, but I had too much on my plate. God heard my prayers and began to help me understand that if I wanted to do something, I should do it, but I needed to count the cost. He also taught me an important lesson: I may want to do something, but that does not mean I should do it. God wants us to seek him about opportunities because he knows what is best for us, and he knows what those opportunities will entail; we don’t have this foresight.

As you continue to grow, I pray you will realize that every season will require a different version of you, and God’s commission will require you to count the cost.

Ebony H. Brooks is an author, writer, and businesswoman who was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. and currently resides in North Carolina. She has written three books: Failing Forward into God’s Purpose, What’s Your Fish?: The Story of Jonah, and It Is Time. Her podcast “Let’s Talk: The Journey to Moving Forward” is in its third season and can be heard wherever podcasts are available. She encourages others in the Word of the Lord on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.