Count the cost

How many of you have a household budget? 

The concept is to help you keep track of your income and your outgo of your finances. And the purpose is to be balanced or spending less than you bring in.

The problem with budgeting is, there is often more month at the end of the money. This comes from lack of proper planning. 

We tend to fall into temptation of buying more than we need. 

Discipleship and stewardship are closely linked. To be a good steward of our money we have to be very disciplined with our spending.

And sadly, many will not tithe or give offerings when they are undisciplined in their spending. Some even make brash promises to God that IF He does ________________, they will give Him ___________.

Why don't they give God first and trust in His care? As a matter of fact the one and only time we are "invited" to put God to the test is with our giving. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10 ESV)

Stewardship and Discipleship both bring many blessings.

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30 ESV)

Monument to failure

Not far from my home, along interstate 68 in Maryland, a replica of Noah's Ark is being built. It is going to be actual size and house a church and a gymnasium. It should be very impressive when completed. 

However, it was begun in 1976. It is well over 40 years and it is still just the partial framework.

The man building it is confident that he can convince the neighbors to donate the adjacent land that is needed and he is just as sure that all funding will be forthcoming.

However, locally, it is kind of a joke. 

Everyone mocks him just like the biblical Noah was mocked for believing that it would rain and flood the earth.

The steel structure seems to be, a giant monument to his failure to plan.

I do not know the true circumstances of his funding, or lack thereof. I do not know if the land rumors are true or false. But it does seem to me that it may forever just be a shell of what might have been.

Jesus was talking to his disciples and teaching them about, well, discipleship. He used the following verses as part of His teaching:

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30 ESV)

Makes me wonder about all the people that come into the faith without considering the cost. How many people want the faith without being willing to give up the world.

Many want God on Sunday and the world every other day. But God wants all of us. 

We all must "give up" certain things to follow Jesus. Is it worth it to you?

What on this earth could be more valuable and cherish able than our salvation? 

It's up to each of us, we must choose. Have you counted the cost, or are you building a giant monument of failure?

Caregiver

One of the hardest jobs in the world is being a caregiver. 

It is a challenge physically, emotionally as well as mentally and spiritually sometimes.

A caregiver is the least noticed person by most unless you are the one receiving the care. 

In my former job at a nursing home, the residents often would prefer me over their own family members. And that comes from the complete trust that they place with the person who provides their care.

But sadly, many caregivers neglect their own selves. 

They will dole out every ounce of kindness, compassion and energy on others often at the high cost of their own health.

Pray for those with big, beautiful hearts of compassion. It is a spiritual gift that we don't all possess. I pray to God that we did.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV