You remember the vintage scarf story I shared here? Imagine if I didn't go with enough money to cater for the cost? It would have been painful because I have had previous scenarios where I saw something I liked, or I had plans to buy some new stuff but after spending money on other things that were not quite as important... I find out that I did not have enough to cover the cost of the initial stuff I wanted to buy.
It's like that with other things in life. Sometimes you make up for the cost as you go, but it is often advised that you have enough to totally cater for the cost at the initial stage. Decisions are a huge part of our adult life, and it is typical of us to always do a risk evaluation during the process to pick which has a huge success tendency. Afterwards, we go ahead with it, incurring costs as we go. Now imagine you didn't do a proper cost analysis? You would run out at some point, exhausted and too broke to continue.
When I first came across a related verse in Luke 14:25-33, I was stunned because I could very much relate. Come on, there are buildings in your city that are in the same unfinished state as they were ten (10) years ago, because while his head was envisioning a thing, his pockets were proclaiming something different.
This trickles down to other areas of our life.
You have this amazing dream and you prolly already laid plans, dear, I hope you have consulted with your committing members (hands, mind, and the others)?
Or you're about to enter into the amazing relationship your mind has laid out... did you consult with your heart too? Is it willing to wholly commit?
We often just quickly jump into resolves after we think about pros n cons, without measuring our level of commitment. I used to think this just falls into place immediately we start, but it's not true. I have made decisions to take on something new, but during the course of the journey, I find out my commitment couldn't afford to continue.
Count the cost before you start
It is very wise for us to take stock of what we have, and how much we're willing to spare, as cost or a price to pay for a decision we are about to make. In the verse above, when JESUS said "hate your family..." it was simply about prioritizing HIM above everything HE gives you (family and every other stuff). That's why you have to sit, count and weigh your pockets.You would understand even better if you think about other areas of your life where you find it really difficult to totally commit and pay every price. Not because it's not something you want, but because you cannot afford what it takes to have that running efficiently. This isn't a bad thing, it doesn't make you less of a human being, it doesn't make you a jew either. It simply means, you would have to come a step higher, growth.
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