Calculate

Luke 14:²⁸ “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?”

Live your life in such a way that you are underestimated. People underestimate me a lot and I love it. If you do not have your self-worth in place, when people underestimate you, you will feel insulted and feel you need to make a point. No, you do not. If you have your self-worth in place, when people underestimate you, you will smile. They say that the needle may be small, but it is difficult to swallow. The one who insists on swallowing the needle will not live to tell the story. Deut.32:^30-31 “How could one person chase a thousand of them, and two people put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up? But the rock of our enemies is not like our Rock, as even they recognize.”

The enemy has a rock, a small letter ‘r’ rock. The rock of the enemies is not like our Rock and even they recognize it. Our Rock is the Rock of Ages. When you are recording victories and people label you as a small boy, do not feel the need to answer. When they call you small, just smile because time will tell. The key thing is, do not confuse outrage with courage.

The second of three things crucial in taking bold steps in life is, Do Not Rush. This dovetails from the first which is do not confuse outrage with courage. Yes, you should continue to take bold steps but do not rush, do not be hasty. Eccl.5:^1-2 “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.” Someone says, ‘God if You give me this seven-figure job, I will go beyond giving just first-fruit. For the first six months, I am going to give You my entire salary’. Then month one, month two, and by month three he or she says, ‘God, this thing is hard. Do You really need to take the first-fruit for six months? You do not really need the money, Your child needs the money’. God says that is a foolish thing to do, so do not do it.

There are three levels to being with God: level one, not committing, and not doing anything. Level two, committing and not doing anything. You commit to serving, to be a worker and you are serving but you always show up late. Do not do it! Stop, do not be a worker. But there is a third level, those who commit and fulfil. Those are God’s people; they are like Him because He says, and He does. God would rather you do not commit than commit and not fulfil. Go beyond the first two levels to the third, commit and fulfil because you cannot grow without commitment. Please read Luke 14:31-33. Jesus was advising people who want to follow Him, and He says on big decisions, count the cost. God wants you to make the big decisions, but He says count the cost. He does not want you to make the big decision and count the cost after.

Prayer: Father, in my zeal to please You, help me not to make mindless offerings to You but rather to first count the cost, in Jesus Name. Amen!