Budgeting and Counting the Cost

It’s easy to pass blame on to someone or something else when a decision does not go as planned. However, especially for meaningful decisions, one must be self-reflective and examine if they took the time to plan adequately. When dealing with finances this process usually goes hand in hand with budgeting. For some time, budgeting has been the go-to resource for “counting the cost”. It creates stewardship and accountability across business and personal lives.

A Parable on Budgeting?

In Luke we see Jesus give a practical business application:

²⁸ “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ “

Luke 14:28-30

During this time it was probably not like the type of economic climate we see today where building costs can become obsolete in a matter of weeks. That’s why today it is important to forecast multiple scenarios, which is what we do for our partners at Guided Insight. However, getting back to the parable, the principle of being prudent and diligent before undertaking a project remains the same. In my time living in Nicaragua there was a big structure close to where I lived that was standing unfinished with grown up grass and weeds all around it. The structure stuck out like a sore thumb and every time I passed by, I thought of all the money wasted and always pondered what could have been the reason for abandoning the project. Even in the States we see projects fall through. These incomplete structures serve as a visual embarrassment. Those of us who are not in the building sphere may not have a visual representation for our lack of preparation but can certainly lose the respect of our peers and staff by decisions not working out due to a known lack of preparation.

Business Application

When making a big decision like making a hire, adding a new service, buying equipment or a building, etc. it is necessary to consider present and future cash flow possibilities. From there a budget can be formed in order to provide the necessary safety measures to make sure the decision is successful. Most of the time those types of decisions should be mapped out at least 3 months out if not up to a year(s) out. Lack of preparation can lead to, as Jesus described the man, being mocked.

Personal Application

As you should know, this parable is not about the importance of budgeting even though that is something that we can takeaway from the passage. I would be remiss to not touch on the full meaning of the parable because it is powerful. Viewing the whole parable we see that Jesus is calling for something radical:

²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ ³¹ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. ³³ So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:26-33

That is a lot to take in. It would require many more words to properly exegete that passage. In very short, the Christian life does not call for just “dipping your toes in the water”, it is a full-on submersion. It is necessary to renounce what the Lord calls us to even if it means everything. There is an idea in modern Western Christianity that Jesus is just something you add to your life and all sorts of blessings come your way. The idea of renouncing and repenting are far from the talking point whereas in true Christianity it is the point. We are enemies of God therefore there is no way we can be in harmony with God without something changing. It is not works based salvation but rather a salvation that produces fruit of repentance.

Takeaway

Jesus gave a practical illustration that was understood in that time and still holds its meaning today. We can see the impact of not counting the cost in the business world and in our personal lives and finances. Failures can lead to visual reminders or loss of confidence. This can lead us to look foolish in the eyes of men. However, when it comes to following Christ, it is foolish to not release control of our lives to Him. May the Lord give you wisdom.