How have you counted the costs recently before tackling a project at home or at work? In what way can a project fail before it starts? We're going to look for the answers to these questions today in light of Luke chapter 14 beginning in verse 28, so turn with me there as we discover what a person should consider before building a tower....
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"
Do you remember playing with blocks when you were young? As mothers, I'm sure you've all observed your little ones building with blocks from time to time.... It's funny, but when we were kids, we always wanted to build big, didn't we? We always chose to construct a tower, something that stood straight and tall, high above all else, amen? Those little child's hands just pile one block upon the other, without a thought as to whether or not their tower will come tumbling down.... Here in scripture we see that no matter how good our intentions are, we must first consider the cost of that tower we are intending to build if we ever plan on seeing construction through to the end. Sounds easy, doesn't it? But how many of us really do it.... Many of us are just like those little children playing with blocks, we just pile one thing on top of the next with no thought at all! For example, several of you ladies - like me, homeschool your children. Have you considered if you really have sufficient to build this tower? What is going to be necessary to see this goal through? You and I both know that we will have some strongholds to tear down, some flesh to crucify, some habits to break, some character traits to instill etc., not only in our own lives as mothers, but also in the life of our children, amen? Ladies, the Bible exhorts us to count the cost first, to consider what it is going to take, and then take steps to prepare ourselves for construction of the tower. Intentions are good, but they are only the mental part of the whole picture. Carrying out those intentions to build your tower is quite another matter, amen? We better take the Lord's suggestion to sit down first and think about it! Now I know that goes against our natural tendencies to get busy and get things rolling whenever we have on our minds set on a new project or goal to tackle. Soon after a hasty beginning though, we become overwhelmed and then abandon the work.... Perhaps we won't feel as if our lives are spinning out of control if we would just take some time to do this necessary part of making it to the finish line!! We can't build high if we're down low.... We need climb to the Rock that is higher than us, amen?
Psalm 61:2, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
Sit down dear lady, would you please, and spend some time with God! His guidance and wisdom is gained through stillness on our part and mistakes are avoided.... Then it is we'll be prepared to build towers in our lives. Our loving heavenly Father does not want us to live by hindsight, but by foresight!!
Psalm 4:4, "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah."
Psalm 23:2, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."
Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
The Lord told us to sit down first because He wants us to realize that we don't have enough within ourselves to finish the tower, no matter what it is called! For some it might be the tower of homeschooling, for others it might be a tower called losing weight, another woman might be constructing a tower called marriage, and many of us are still building the tower of motherhood every day.... (We also need to consider how many towers we can build at once!) With all this construction going on in our lives, we need the Lord, amen? Ladies, if we would sit still long enough we would realize just how much! God says, "Be still and KNOW me - I can help you!!" I recommend you go somewhere alone for a few hours with a pen and some paper and sit down with all of your good intentions to build your tower. Get alone with God and count how much it will cost to finish it. The Lord will show you in His Word - His construction manual - what materials you need to get the job done. He'll also show you what you excess materials you need to get rid of in order to get the job done in a decent amount of time! You'll also need to ask Him in prayer to help provide you with enough strength to make it to the finish line. After all, the Lord has a vested interest in the towers His children are building, for they ought to bring glory to God upon completion, amen? Yes, there is much at stake.... What consequences result from not counting the cost before building? Verses 29-30 give us the answer....
"Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."
As Christians, when we set out to build and do not finish, not only are we mocked, but so is our God! Think about that the next time you intend to take on a project or set a new goal in your life. Consider the name of the Lord in the whole matter from beginning to end. It makes people wonder what happened when they observe a work you talked so excitedly about and then ended up abandoning.... The consequences at stake are that it causes people to wonder about the God you mentioned to them too! Is He really as capable as you told them He was when there is no evidence of it in your own life?? You must consider that whatever tower you are intending to build today, you are building as a testimony to your God! May your plans first be to glorify Him.... Ladies, before beginning construction of anything in our lives, the Lord must be our foundation so that the work can stand tall for Him, amen? We can complete anything with the Lord, nothing is too hard for Him.... Prepare to finish what you start, but not alone!
Psalm 18:2, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
~Build High~
A lady sat at her window a bright, balmy spring morning. The sun was out without a cloud, the blooming flowers were sending forth their fragrance to perfume and bless the earth, and the birds sang their songs of gladness as they went forth to their daily toil. Soon the lady saw that a little worker had chosen a rosebush for its home and was very busy bringing in sticks and hair and feathers and other material to make its house.
"Ah, you pretty little creature," said the lady, "you are building too low. Soon the destroyer will come and break up your sweet home." And so it was. The days passed by; the nest was finished, and then there were eggs in the nest, and then four great big mouths were open whenever the low chirp of the mother announced that she had something for them to eat. One day the lady sat by the window sewing. Suddenly she heard the cry of the birds, in the deepest distress, and she looked out to see what was the matter. There was a great snake that had crawled up and was devouring the helpless little ones, while just above them the poor heartbroken mother fluttered about in the wildest distraction. But it was too late; her children were gone, and her home was left desolate, a sad reminder of her folly in building so near the ground. So I think it is with people who have no higher ambition than earthly pleasures, wealth or honors. They build too low. Their heart's home is in easy reach of death and the devil, and depend upon it, the destroyer will come, soon or late."
Psalm 61:3, "For thou has been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy."
I hope that whatever tower you intend to build today you build with the help of the person of Jesus Christ. His power is sufficient to get the job done! Sit with Him today and make plans for building your tower, won't you?
God Bless, Pam Isaiah 60:1&2 Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello Back to Top
