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how do jesus' teachings on 'counting the cost' affirm or challenge proverbs' focus on personal gain?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Luke 14:28-30

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees it begins to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and wasn’t able to finish.’

Jesus is speaking to large crowds about the demands of discipleship. He uses parables about building a tower and a king going to war to illustrate the importance of forethought and commitment when considering following him, emphasizing that it requires deep personal sacrifice.

What does this passage reveal about the nature of true commitment, beyond an initial desire?

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Read alongside it

  • Proverbs 24:27

    This proverb encourages planning and preparation before embarking on a project or building a household.

  • Luke 14:25-27

    Immediately preceding this passage, Jesus outlines the extreme personal sacrifices required for discipleship, including family and one's own life.

  • Matthew 6:33

    This verse from the Sermon on the Mount prioritizes seeking God's kingdom and righteousness, implying a different 'gain' than worldly prosperity.

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