UNDERESTIMATING

For many years, I as a contractor was called upon to give estimates for work to be done. The estimates were for jobs as small as a garage, to large complexes, both residential and commercial projects. The estimates would lead to contracts in many cases.

It was fairly simple when the work was controlled by my contract because I had the all the contingencies covered, but at times things were more complex and the contracts were many pages which made me nervous for they were in lawyer speak.

If I over estimated, the worse that could happen was I lost the job. If I under estimated the job, all the happy faces left the building and only Mr. Frown remained.

Within the Christian realm there is the warning of underestimating the cost of serving Christ. Jesus was stressing the reality of being a Christian, and what was required of anyone who wanted to follow him. The words in Luke are hard to bear, but bear them we must.

Luke 14:25 “Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,

Luke 14:26 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.

Luke 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?

Luke 14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,

Luke 14:30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

Because we serve a loving GOD full of mercy and grace, we can underestimate our responsibility to HIM, for we are not of this world and we are expected to live like it.

In many cases the large crowds who were just following along with Jesus, turned away when he began to speak to them about the cost. They were mostly interested in the freebies and not their service to GOD.

It is easy to get into the promise mode and neglect the service mode.

Two things Jesus emphasized were commitment and adherence to him and his agenda. There is no room for negotiation, no contingencies, no special treatment, and no rebates.

If we underestimate the terrors of being lost in hell and underestimate the joys of heaven we may be careless in our dedication to Christ. While He spoke lovingly, He spoke the truth in love when He said; “If anyone would be my disciple he must follow Me.” There are no side trips available on our own.

It is good, on occasion to remind ourselves that we are servants as well as brothers to the LORD, and to act accordingly.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLJ7Hkx6YwM&feature=related