The Leadership ChallengeSample

Challenge 38

JESUS, ADVICE ABOUT PLANNING AHEAD

READ: Luke 14:25–35

In our text, Jesus uses more analogies to illustrate spiritual realities. This time His focus is on the need to “count the cost” of being His follower. He uses two images. The first is about a man who plans to build a tower. The second is about a king going to war. Jesus’s main point is that we need to give careful and thoughtful consideration to the cost of following Him. As Jesus teaches, He also affirms the appropriateness of planning. Planning does not show a lack of trust, or Jesus would not have used these examples to make His point. The Bible often affirms the wisdom of planning when it is done in dependence on God (Proverbs 16:3; James 4:13–16). The adage that “no battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy” has been attributed to several military leaders from General von Moltke to General Colin Powell. No matter the source, it certainly is true. That does not mean we should not plan. General Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”

In this passage, what three costs does Jesus identify that we need to take into account before following Him? How will you plan in a way that recognizes your dependence on the Lord?