How have you counted the cost 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 them 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. That little child's hands simply
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? Lots of us are just like those little
children playing with blocks; we pile one thing on top of the next with
no thought at all! For example, several of you ladies, like me, school
your children at home. Have you considered if you really have sufficient
resources to build this tower? Do you have the things for completing?
What is going to be necessary to see this lengthy goal through? You and
I both know that we will have some flesh to crucify, some strongholds
to tear down, some habits to break, some character traits to instill etc.,
not only in our own lives as mothers, but also in the lives of our children.
Ladies, the Bible exhorts us to count the cost first, to estimate all
it is going to take, and then move toward properly preparing 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! We better take the Lord's suggestion
to sit down first and think about it.
Nowadays that goes against our natural tendency to get busy and start
things rolling whenever our mind settles on a new project or goal to tackle.
Yet, soon after a hasty beginning, 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 implement this key component in 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…
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, and spend some time with God! His power and promises
are a rock that is higher than us! His guidance and wisdom is gained through
stillness on our part and mistakes are thereby avoided.... Then it is
we'll be prepared to build towers in our lives and not stumps of projects.
Our loving heavenly Father does not want us to live by hindsight, but
by foresight!! Every worthwhile pursuit requires stillness first.
Psalm 4:4
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed,
and be still. Selah.
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 understand that
we don't have enough within ourselves to finish a tower, no matter what
it is called! For some it might be the tower of home schooling, 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 little while 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 the you excess goods 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 God in prayer to help provide you with staying
power to make it to the finish line. After all, the Lord has a vested
interest in the towers His children are building; they ought to bring
glory to God upon completion! 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! Is the
Lord really as capable as you told others 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 God. 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.
Yes, God is a place where we can escape from our enemies. He is our support
system; the One who puts strength in our soul, our shelter in a time of
storm and the One from which we can discern the geography round about,
and always be able to discover danger before it approaches us. Every undertaking
should be channeled through the Lord!
~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 reasonable tower you intend to build today you assemble
it with the help of the person of Jesus Christ. Be led to and fixed upon
Christ, our Rock. His power is sufficient to get the job done and done
right! Sit with Him today and make your plans, won't you?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
