Theme: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Text: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish…” – Luke 14:28-33.
Comment: This statement by our Lord Jesus Christ is particularly striking not only in regard to the spiritual aspect but also to our material lives. On the spiritual side, the parable teaches us that anyone who accepts to be a follower of Christ must know what he is up against. (Proverbs 29:27) And St. Paul asserts that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. (Ephesians 6:10-12) Proper understanding of the odds against true discipleship will enable one to fight the good fight of faith and endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3, 4) King Solomon says, “Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.” (Proverbs 25:8)
At the material level, the parable stresses the common sense of not embarking on any project without sitting down to plan properly – doing a proper risk analysis, what costs it entails, how long it will take and whether one has the resources and strength to undertake the project from start to finish etc. It is commonly said that to fail to prepare is to prepare to fail. Thus if one cannot cope, it is better not to start at all. Compare Proverbs 24:27; Proverbs 20:18.