Faith & Finance Fridays
Reflect • Commit • Equip • Apply
Commit: Counting the Cost
"For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?" – Luke 14:28
Last week, we reflected on the builder in Jesus' story and the importance of understanding what we're building with the resources God has entrusted to us. This week, we linger with the same image and consider a deeper question: Why counting the cost matters? and how caring enough about the future encourages us to commit to seeing it through.
Most of us carry hopes for the future: pay off debt, buy a home, retire comfortably, or have the freedom to be generous when needs arise. Those hopes matter because they represent the lives we're longing to build.
Jesus' builder reminds us that vision, by itself, is only the beginning.
Why Should Counting the Cost Matter to Us?
The builder's decision to sit and count the cost is an act of commitment, and more importantly, it builds conviction–emotional buy-in. Is the project worth the effort to plan? His preparation reflects how much the tower matters.
Jesus uses this passage to teach us about discipleship—an emotionally invested discipline to follow through. This principle reaches beyond the immediate context. We can practice that same discipline in our financial life and the future we dream of: when something matters deeply, we give it the time, resources, and attention it deserves.
Stewardship goes hand-in-hand with discipleship. It asks whether the things we say matter most are actually receiving the necessary attention. To be good stewards of our goals and dreams, we need to intentionally lay out the resources we need to achieve them.
Without intention, short-term demands often outrun long-term priorities. Counting the cost keeps the future visible and connects today's resources with tomorrow's hopes.
Reflection Question
What future are you hoping to build, and does the attention you're giving it reflect how much it matters to you?
This Week’s Steps:
1. Choose one goalthat matters to you: Spend the time to reflect on why that goal matters
2. Picture the future it represents: How would that goal change your daily life-for the better, worse, harder, etc.?
3. Imagine the obstacles: what fears, patterns, thoughts might keep you from progress? Are they worth overcoming?
4. Seek a different perspective: Pray for wisdom, talk with someone you trust, or schedule a values‑based conversation with your trusted financial advisor.
Join us next week as we continue to commit and equip ourselves with the skills we need to put the builder’s wisdom into practice.