Faith & Finance Fridays
Reflect • Conviction • Equip • Apply
Luke 14:28 Apply: 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
Over the past weeks, we’ve reflected on Jesus’ image of a builder. From there we’ve committed ourselves to our goal, ensuring our ‘Why’ is clear. Last week, we equipped ourselves with the questions and practices needed to approach reaching our goals, as we define one goal at the time, as something that must be built with intentional consideration.
Today, for our final week delving into Luke 14:28, we move from learning these practices to applying them consistently until they become part of our everyday stewardship.
From Intentional Practice to Unintentional Habit
At first, applying this practice requires a conscious decision. When something is important, it deserves a place on our calendar and in our budget. Suppose we decide that reviewing our budget at the end of every month is an important part of faithfully stewarding what God has entrusted to us. We don't wait until we remember. We make an appointment and a reminder (time set aside for the task) on our calendar. We've decided it's worth making time for.
The reminder appears, we open the budget, review our spending, and make any necessary adjustments. We repeat the same process month after month.
Eventually, we’re no longer relying on the pop-up reminder. We simply know that we have an appointment for doing this task and we do it when it’s time. What began as intentional practice has become an unintentional habit, and reviewing our budget has become part of the monthly routine we've developed. We never stopped setting aside that time, we just no longer need the reminder.
Building One Stone at a Time
Jesus' illustration shows the builder calculating the cost before he begins the work ahead. Once he finishes his calculations, he lays one stone after another until the tower is complete.
Following that same practice shapes discipleship. What is discipleship though? Discipleship, disciple, and discipline all share a root in the Latin word discipulus, meaning “student” or “follower”. A disciple therefore intentionally follows instructions from someone of greater knowledge and wisdom. To follow Christ as a disciple begins with a deliberate vow and matures into action as we apply His teaching every day.
Discipline begins with commitment
Jesus repeatedly tells the crowd to count the cost because following Him will require everything.
Before we spend, save, borrow, or give, we have opportunities to consider whether those choices move us toward the life God is calling us to build. How often do we count the cost of our actions or inactions? Faithful stewardship grows stronger each time we choose to make financial decisions that reflect our commitment rather than simply responding to the moment.
A disciple shows repeated obedience
Just as the builder lays one stone after another, disciples follow Jesus through repeated acts of faithfulness. We pray, forgive, repent, and choose generosity again and again, allowing ordinary acts of obedience to shape our lives.
What ordinary acts of obedience are shaping the way you steward the resources God has entrusted to you? Practicing honesty in how we earn and manage money, honoring our commitments, providing for our responsibilities, seeking wisdom before making financial decisions, and living within our resources are everyday expressions of faithful stewardship.
Habits become evidence of discipleship
We don't repledge our lives to Christ every morning because we've forgotten yesterday. Instead, our previous promise expresses itself through today's committed action.
How do your financial habits reflect the promise you made to God?The way we earn, spend, save, and give becomes visible evidence of the priorities we’ve chosen to practice. Our stewardship reflects the commitment we’ve made to honor God with the resources He has entrusted to us.
Building a Life of Faithful Stewardship
Jesus' illustration doesn't celebrate the person who starts building; it honors the one who finishes. The same is true of our walk with Christ. The goal is not merely to make wise financial decisions, but to become faithful stewards whose daily habits reflect a life shaped by Him. One decision leads to another, each act of obedience builds on the last, and over time, those ordinary choices become a life that honors God.
We began this month by reflecting on the cost. We moved to commitment, equipped ourselves to build wisely, and now we've considered what it means to consistently apply those practices. A builder counts the cost because he intends to finish what he started.
The same is true of our financial stewardship. Each time we apply the principles we've equipped ourselves to follow, we strengthen our commitment to faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us. Those repeated choices become the unintentional habits that support faithful stewardship and the future rewards of doing so.
As disciples of Christ, our daily stewardship is part of that same commitment, faithfully building with what God has entrusted to us until the work He has begun in us is complete.
Reflection Question
As you look back over this month's reflections, what action will you apply that will help you build a life of faithful stewardship?
Next Month
Next week, we’ll reflect together on Genesis 41:33-56 and explore throughout the month how Joseph’s wise stewardship can be applied to our own finances.