Lk 14:28-32
28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” 31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.
BLOG DISCUSSION QUESTION: Someone said, "If our plans are big enough for us to accomplish, then they are too small." What does this parable say to this quote?
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3 comments:
Pastor Jerry, your question is very puzzling....yes, if we can accomplish something seemingly without God's input, our plans are too small. For with God, all things are possible.....but I'm not sure that this scripture relates to that?????
Guess I've never really thought about verse 32...it's always "the tower" part that most people know. Sending a delegation for peace sounds like what he should have done in the first place????? This parable could ignite lots of good discussion.....hint, hint, hint!
Salvation or discipleship.
I have found myself separating these. I think many understand salvation that this is what God did for us through Jesus but, discipleship is what WE do as a response to this gift.
In this parable, Jesus asks the large crowd that was eagerly following to consider the cost of their following (their discipleship). If one honestly considers what you/I have accomplished or finished on our own...it too probably deserves ridicule like the foundation lacking a structure.
So I think this parable tells me, salvation AND discipleship....don't do it alone, you will be disappointed. Instead, "Follow Me" and you will be amazed.
Thanks RJQ (whoever you are?) for your insight into discipleship. Salvation AND discipleship are part of the Christian life, and to a great degree the discipleship part has a lot to do with what we are able or willing to do. But even there, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
My question comes from times in my ministry when the church that I was serving knew that they needed to do something, but when discussion took place among the leadership, someone would be quick to say, "We'll never be able to do it. We're too stuck in our ways."
It is in this regard that I posed my question. When we ask the question, "can we do this?", one of the things that we need to look at is the power of God to stir people's hearts....can God open up the heart of someone who has a lot of money but who uses it almost entirely for his own pleasure to see the joy in giving? can God slow a person down whose life is full and busy so that person can daily read the Bible and pray? can God take hold of a person so tightly so that that one can walk into the darkest alleys of life without fear? Yes! Yes! Yes!
If our plans are only big enough for us to accomplish, we have forgotten to look at the power of God amongst us, and that makes them too small for God.
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