12/3/2015 PLAN AHEAD
Luke 14:28-31 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 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.’ Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? [Revised Standard translation]
Biblical Comment
The Bible encourages all of us to plan ahead, to carefully think about the what we need to accomplish, to consider our strengths and weaknesses, to evaluate our present situation and, in general, to consider the “costs” in implementing and completing our goals. Two examples are given.
The first example is that of a person wanting to build a tower but who has not planned ahead or taken the necessary steps to complete the job. The vision was there. In fact, the vision is even lofty! This person does not want to just build a mere house, but a tower! But the execution was weak. Perhaps the person started building without a blueprint (because he thought it cost too much), or underestimated the cost of the building materials. Perhaps he did not evaluate his own strengths and weaknesses and did not take into consideration the physical or psychological sacrifices that he or others would need to make to complete the task.
The second example given in Luke 14 is that of a king going to war. This example suggests that the stakes are high. During Biblical times losing a war, would not only mean the end of the king’s reign but the destruction of a whole nation. The whole kingdom was impacted. Men were killed, women were widowed, children were orphaned and, once defeated, survivors were taken into captive as slaves. Property, possessions and even religious freedoms were lost in times of war. Entering into war required careful consideration, counsel and planning, because “everything” was at stake. For this reason the king sought wise counsel from military experts, prophets, wise men and from GOD.
It always pays to consult GOD first.