7 September 2025 - counting the cost

Today's Readings
(Audio) 

Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?

The decision of whether or not to follow Jesus was a big one. It was more than a mere abstract question about whether one would put love first in his life. It was a question of whether one would go all the way with such a commitment as Jesus did, whether or not he would take up his own cross and come after Jesus. Jesus may have felt the need to express things in these terms because people were taking too lightly the decision to come along in his company. They were there for the highlight reel of good times, from the healings and exorcisms he performed, to the humbling of the scribes and the Pharisees through his wise responses to their testing. In short, they were there as observers. They wanted to be associated with him because they liked to imagine themselves as the sort of people who would be. They liked the self-image of people who were near to the popular and successful Jesus. And who wouldn't? But to follow Jesus, it was necessary to have a commitment that extended beyond the easy times. It was important to resolve in advance to be committed to his calling, lest the dark hour of the cross utterly overwhelm the naive sensibilities of fair-weather disciples.

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?

What was asked of the followers of Jesus was actually something that was humanly impossible, like being asked to fight a battle without an insufficient number of soldiers. It was an invitation that ought to only be accepted in faith. Acting in faith Gideon was able to defeat a much larger army with a small number of troops. But God made it clear to him and those involved that it was only possible because God made it possible. In short, if we think discipleship within the range of our normal human abilities we will take the decision about whether or not to undertake it lightly, and therefore end in failure. The only way to achieve success is to take the question so seriously that we understand that what is being asked is far beyond us and therefore only undertake it because of our faith in the one who calls us. It is not possible for us alone. But the one who calls us makes it possible. 

In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.

If we don't renounce our own possessions in this way we will try to rely on them, along with our own abilities, our wisdom and cleverness, in our walk of discipleship. And this is a recipe for repeated disappointment. It is true that Jesus may well put to use all of our time, talent, and treasure. But none of these is enough, unless he is the one giving directions. It wasn't because of our resume that he invited us to discipleship. Rather, he wants to reveal his own power manifested in each of us. Let's give him the the committed consent of our hearts, making his desire our own.

Newsboys - Way Beyond Myself