Counting the Cost: What It Really Means to Follow Jesus
Scripture: Luke 14:28–30 (NIV)
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”
The Call Is Free—But It’s Not Cheap
Many of us love the idea that salvation is a free gift, and it is—Jesus paid the price for our sins. But Jesus was also upfront about something many overlook: following Him will cost us something. In fact, it may cost us everything. Luke 14:25–33 records Jesus speaking to a large crowd, and instead of hyping up the benefits, He warns them to count the cost.
This wasn’t a marketing strategy. It was a truth-bomb.
Jesus was saying, “Don’t follow Me lightly. Don’t call yourself a disciple if you haven’t fully understood what you’re signing up for.”
What Does It Mean to Count the Cost?
To “count the cost” is to evaluate what it will truly take to follow Christ—not just emotionally, but practically. Jesus gives two short parables to make His point:
- A man builds a tower but doesn’t budget for the full project.
- A king goes to war without first calculating if he can win.
Both look foolish because they didn’t consider the full cost before making a commitment. Jesus is saying: Discipleship is not just about enthusiasm—it’s about endurance.
What Might It Cost You?
Here are some real costs Jesus speaks about directly or indirectly in this passage:
1. Your Comfort
Following Jesus may lead you into uncomfortable places. It’s not always safe or convenient.
2. Your Relationships
Jesus says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children…such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).
This is hyperbole, not literal hate—but it means Christ must take first place over even your closest relationships.
3. Your Possessions
In verse 33, Jesus says, “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” This doesn’t mean every Christian must become homeless, but it does mean nothing you own can be held back from Him.
4. Your Own Will
Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). That means dying to our own plans, ambitions, and preferences.
Grace Is Free, But Discipleship Has a Price
We don’t earn salvation, but true faith always results in a transformed life. Counting the cost helps us see that following Jesus is not a part-time hobby or a feel-good label—it’s a full-life surrender.
But here’s the irony: what Jesus asks us to give up is small compared to what He gives us in return.
- You may give up comfort, but you gain peace.
- You may lose control, but you gain purpose.
- You may give up the world, but you gain eternity.
Are You Building Without Finishing?
It’s easy to start strong and fade later—spiritually, emotionally, or morally. Jesus invites us to be people who finish well. That means evaluating where we are today. Are we still committed? Are we still surrendered? Or did we stop building halfway?
Final Thoughts
Counting the cost isn’t meant to scare you—it’s meant to prepare you. Jesus doesn’t promise an easy road, but He promises to walk it with you. And in the end, you won’t regret the price you paid. You’ll only be grateful for the One you followed.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” — Jim Elliot