Have You Counted the Cost

Truman Smith

What a great question! Have you counted the cost? Evidently, many have not! God’s people have been singing about it for many years. A song by that title was written by A.J. Hodge in 1923. If you sing all three verses of that song, you will ask that question some five times; and just think of the many years we’ve repeated it in our worship before our God in an effort to impress the importance of it upon our hearts. There is no doubt but that this song was suggested by the great lesson taught by our Lord to the multitude while on his way to Jerusalem as recorded in Luke 14:25-35. He gives two scenarios to illustrate:

First, there is the man who would like to build a tower; but must first sit down and figure the cost of it to make certain that he has enough money so people would not laugh at him for starting such a great project and not have sufficient to complete it. Then there is the king who would not bring his army of 10,000 soldiers against another who has 20,000 without first sitting down to receive counseling lest, upon realizing his terrible error, he has to send an ambassage a great way off and offer conditions of peace.

Have you counted the cost?

Indeed, the cost of discipleship is great. It cost our Lord a life of persecutions, trials, temptations (Heb. 2:18; 4:15), shame, humiliation, and contradiction of sinners (Isa. 53; Heb. 12:3). It cost Jesus his home in heaven for a life of a servant on earth (Phil. 2:7) and the death of the cross (John 18:28-30)! Though his was a one-time sacrificial death (Heb. 9:28), yet he died for our salvation (John 3:16). He died for our redemption from iniquity (Tit. 2:14). He gave his life for us because he loved us (Rom. 5:6-8). He died for our justification (Rom. 5:9). And he died to establish his church (Eph. 5:25). Have you counted what it cost Jesus?

My dear brother or sister, we must count the cost. In reality, if a choice is to be made between houses, lands, family, and friends for serving Christ, we must pay the price (Matt. 19:29)! No would-be follower of Jesus should “put his hand to the plow” if he is planning to look back (Luke 9:62; 2 Pet. 2:21-22). Yes, we must “sit down” and do some figuring, some thinking, and count the cost. If necessary, simply take a sheet of paper and make a list on the left side of all the things to be gained by following Christ. Put everything down that you can think of! Then on the right hand side list all of the things that you will have to give up. List everything you can think of! This is a good way to “count (consider) the cost.” Have you counted the cost? Some of the costs to be considered will be in the form of persecution. Paul said, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). It costs to be a Christian! All sinful pleasures will have to be left behind; for a Christian must not “fashion himself according to this world” (Rom. 12:2). His love for Christ must be stronger than his love for earthly things (1 John 2:15-17). Neither must we have a love for money. Paul also said, “For the love of money is the root of all evil. which while some coveted after, they have pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:10). Everything that is “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16) must be put aside.

Have you counted the cost?

My precious friend, think of the rewards of the kingdom! For sure, records of the wicked very clearly show that it does not pay to go the ways of the world. If one neglects the great salvation in Christ, he will surely be recompensed for the reward of his transgression and disobedience (Heb. 2:2-3). Truly, vengeance will be taken against those that “know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thess. 1:8-9). But, on the other hand, think of the joy of entering into everlasting life! Consider the “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4).

Have you counted the cost?

Surely, the Lord desires quality more than quantity. He is engaged in building and fighting! He would have followers who will stand by him until he is done. No, discipleship must not be taken in a moment of mere emotional sentimentality or rashness. You will observe that before Jesus spoke of the man building the tower and the king’s army, he said: “Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27); then afterwards, he says, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14.33).

Have you counted the cost?