The Cost of Investing (Disc...

SCRIPTURE: Luke 14:28-30

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the 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.’"

OBSERVATION:

Discipleship (following and learning from Jesus) has a high cost for a high gain.  It is not a short term investment - it is eternal. 

They say that investing in the stockmarket in shares is a long term investment.  Shares fluctuate, they rise, they fall, they fall, they fall, they fall,....... (in 2008 anyway), but they will rise again (eventually).  Investing in shares however is about a net long term gain.  If you get out with the first hit, the first slump in prices, the first negative report - you lose.  If however you have given yourself enough time to ride out the cycle, the idea is that ultimately there should be a net gain even if it means 20 years down the track!

Life is a little like that, ... but Discipleship even more so!  However the difference between shares and Discipleship is that we have an iron clad promise that investing in Discipleship will reap rewards of an exponential nature for eternity (not financial necessarily) but life rewards. WHen you become a disciple of Jesus the cycle can be very much like this - gains feel like they come when we are encouraged through the Word of God, we get revelation of the awesome Power and Presence of Jesus, but maybe it seems like a downward cycle when we are corrected, disciplined, ....

With Christ there will always be a net gain - stay in this relationship long term - it is the only guaranteed investment!  Follow Jesus.