Counting the Cost

Dear Trekker,
Often as I sit down with pen in hand… something out of the blue enters my mind and I turn aside to “see” what it is, and can’t let it go. Such is the case this month as we begin our seventh year together.

I’ll explain. The other evening I overheard a fascinating social conversation which mesmerized me. It was all left brain stuff, space exploration, true rocket science going forward with the speed of light. It was over my head. I learned that to the space industry, the current space station is really passé. We “need” to launch satellites into outer space from a moon station. With the moon having only 1/6th the gravity of the earth, you get a lot more “bang (lift) for the buck”… deeper into space, etc. With some trepidation I injected my “two cents”, acknowledging I’m a dominant right brain guy. I opined, “I wonder if we ever pause to consider the ultimate purpose of such exploration?” I went on to say that technological advances down through history reveal man to be “pretty good” with “hardware” issues in life, but “software” solutions regularly elude us. “Will we eventually transport to other planets our perennial inability to know who we are and to solve social problems?” Well, my trial balloon question didn’t float or fly. I was told emphatically, “You don’t get it.”

As I was returning home, my mind settled on Jesus’ parables about “cost”… building a tower, going to war, etc., as outlined in Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 14:25-33. (Read the passage now trekker.) While pondering unbridled space exploration, Jesus’ words recorded by Mark jumped to the front of my “right” brain. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit (lose) his soul?” “Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” We might paraphrase the latter… “What is the cost of a soul?”

The parables and words of Jesus compel and intrigue me. Broad life principles are always at stake. This Luke dialogue concerns the cost of discipleship! Discipleship costs everything! Yet, there is a hitch. “Counting the cost” suggests one should be able to determine ahead of time how costly something might be. That is the rub… for a person, couple, family, community, even a nation. Ironically, as tough as it may be to figure out in advance, any entity should at least try or it may end up in the wilderness wondering, “what happened”. People, marriages, communities and nations can lose “their soul” (their essence). If one doesn’t count the cost of action or inaction, actual or figurative bankruptcy is inevitable… we self-destruct.

I’ve ruminated on Luke 14 quite a bit. You know, Trekker, I believe Jesus was purposefully practical in his teaching. “Cost” is so basic it is taken for granted, I believe, by Jesus! The Scriptures are not only of eternal value, but contain common sense for the common man. Good theology is always practical theology as well. Everything in life costs. Some things in life cost everything! Better finish what you start or your neighbors will “laugh at you”. Don’t start something you can’t finish. Don’t go to war without any chance of victory. Define defeat and victory before warfare starts; one may be wise not to pursue it with a superior enemy. (The renown strategist Karl von Clauswitz was dead-on: “War is simply an extension of diplomacy by other means.”)

Frankly, I see our U.S. culture running headlong in different directions, never seemingly thinking of cost, let alone counting it. Trekker, ask questions of yourself and others… why would I or am I doing what I do? “The unexamined life is not worth living”, Socrates once said. “There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death.” The writer of Proverbs believed this so much it rolled off his pen onto the scroll twice, Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25. We too, would be wise to heed it.

Before I close this month, I want us to look more in-depth at counting the cost in relation to our commitment to the Lifegiver and His call to discipleship. Go back to Luke 14. These parables are not about people who were certain they were willing and capable of paying the cost. No, they were common people like you and me being called to “consider” the cost. Some then and now will pay the cost, others will not. Clearly the King going to war (Luke 14:31) was not able to “pay the cost” of victory… he was out numbered two to one. Likewise, in the tower parable the builder can’t “pay the cost”. Perhaps Jesus is suggesting we, too, may not have what it takes.

Oddly, both the tower builder and wannabe warrior king are commended for not proceeding with their plans. Knowing when to back off can be a wise choice, for you and me, or a nation. (Boy, does this ring true in warfare for the good ole USA as I write.) Notice too, the king sends a delegation while the other “king is a long way off” (v. 32). Perhaps the lesson is make peace while you still have available time and opportunities for negotiation.

Oh, Trekker, the lessons of Scripture, the common sense of the Lord’s teaching! Too many of us are fools, not counting the cost, not determining “is it worth it”. We must give up our pet projects and discover His. We must, as kings, give up our kingdom for His! Count the cost as a person and as you lead others. Give up your claim “to have it all at any cost”. Life doesn’t unfold that way. The cost of space exploration or anything, if it does not help lead humans back to the God who created and redeemed us, is eventually “not worth the price.”

Trekker, think beforehand, not after it’s too late. And pray for the leaders of our country. I’m fearful some do not get the strategic connection between ends, ways and means (the cost) as it relates to maintaining the welfare of a nation or conducting warfare. Will we be laughed at 100 years from now? I pray not, but history will record our failures as well as our successes.

Count the cost, Trekker,
Jim Meredith