Count The Cost!

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?” Lu.14:31

Interestingly, one of the key reasons why you should commit your life to Christ is because the outcome has been predetermined. In fact, it is a very dangerous thing to live without Jesus. In Christ, the outcomes have been predetermined. So we can take on the challenges being confident that the outcome has been predetermined. In our everyday lives we will be confronted with battles, confronted with choices to go to war or not to go to war. In your relationship you will be confronted with the option to battle or not to battle. The Principle of Economy is telling you and I do not fight every battle. Check first. Count the cost.

In 279 B.C., there was a battle called the battle of Asculum, between the Greeks and the Romans. The Greek king, Pyros, was very adamant to take on the Romans. So he deployed a lot of resources against the Romans and actually won the initial battle. But when he won the initial battle, he made this statement, “Alas, one more victory and we are lost”. In other words, the cost of winning that battle was so much they could not even afford to fight another battle. And guess what happened? The Romans came again and Greece was devastated. Know this- it is not every victory that is worth your while. In fact, some victories are defeats in disguise. The Pyrrhic principle evolved from this.

And the Pyrrhic principle states that, “the Pyrrhic victory is a victory that inflicts such a devastating blow on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat”. Yes, you have won the argument but you have lost the relationship. You succeeded in displaying your genius to the world and making your wife look foolish. And you have crushed her so much that you have lost that relationship. The question is, the relationship and the victory, which is more important?

Such a victory is a Pyrrhic victory because your marriage will be under pressure. You have succeeded in squeezing money out of your husband. But the man does not trust you anymore. You have actually lost the relationship. You can apply this to your children, your colleagues, your customers, and your boss. Do you actually think you have gotten victory? Think again!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I cannot live without You. Help me discern when to engage and when to back down, in Jesus Name.