“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?” — Luke 14:28 NIV
I once lived in a vicinity where some buildings were left uncompleted for years. As I passed by the building sites each week, I kept wondering why the owners had abandoned those projects for so long. Then later, I read what Jesus said in Luke 14:28 – (paraphrasing) that it’s not wise to start building a tower without counting the cost. In the case of those uncompleted buildings, I must have been sure that the builders didn’t estimate how much it’ll cost to complete the construction. And unfortunately, that’s how some aspects of many lives have become.
Today, it’s common to see an average youth, especially women, desiring to get married. Meanwhile, they’ve not taken the time to read one single Christian book about dating, courtship or marriage. Again, it’s common to see people starting ministries and businesses but later going down the drain.
I always ask myself why all these things happen. Is it because many don’t build to last, or because of laxity? No. It’s because many don’t know the cost of living a visionary life. People think everything will be fine so far as they’ve started something. Friend, it doesn’t work like that. If you don’t sacrifice to supervise the growth of your vision, I can tell you that you’ll not see many things you dreamed of ever coming to pass.
Jesus didn’t continue to serve under his father Joseph as a carpenter when it was time to begin full-time ministry at age 30. He left home. There were places that He never set his foot. Sometimes, He had to slip through the crowd so that the people desiring to stone Him won’t destroy how the Father had planned His death (John 8:58-59). Because if the Israelites would have stoned Him to death, how can we be healed by the stripes He received (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24)?
Sometimes, God hides the magnitude of sacrifice you must make when you set out to do what He has called you to do. Why? Because if He doesn’t do it, you might get discouraged. God revealed to Ananias that Paul would suffer greatly for the gospel (Acts 9:15-16). Yet, when he went to heal him of his blindness in Damascus, Ananias never said that to Paul (Acts 9:17). He was a wise man.
I want to encourage you that it pays to make a lot of sacrifices in order to live on purpose. You might not see the immediate benefits of your good work today. But it’s compounding to a great tomorrow that you’ll be shocked if God reveals it to you. Let people say whatever they want. Face the issues, discouragements, disappointments and hurts. But remember that God will carry you through each one of them as long as He wants you to live and fulfil your purpose. Keep moving forward.
You’re a blessing.
Prayer
Father, I pray for strength to bear all the burdens which come with living a life of vision. Teach me how to give sacrificially, whether it’s time, money, counsel or other necessities, as I look at the harvest and reward ahead of me in You. When I am discouraged, equip me with the resources I need to get up mightier. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD // 2022 – 336
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