Have You Counted The Cost? (2026 Guide)

If you care about have counted cost, this guide gets straight to the point. We break down what actually matters, skip the fluff, and show you how to put it to work today.

Key Takeaways

• SharePinTweet3Share14 SharesI‘m going to warn you at the moment.
• You’re not going to feel comfortable reading this article.
• Worth noting: 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?

What to Know About Have Counted Cost

Jesus’ words here are highly challenging, and what I’m about to share with you may dishearten you if you haven’t already considered the following passage in detail. In Luke 14:26-33 we read: 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.

• 32 And if not, while the other is yet a excellent method 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 (WEB) There is far more depth to this passage than what I’m going to cover right now.
• More importantly, but since Bible Money Matters is about personal finance from a Christian perspective, we’re going to look at this passage in the context of personal finances.
• So my question for you (and myself) is this: When it comes to your finances, have you counted the cost of following Jesus?

How Have Counted Cost Really Works

The Cost When you read about personal finance in the secular press (offline or online) you see that it’s all about you. What do you wish?

• Remember that what are your goals?
• What are your dreams?
• What will make you happy?
• But for Christians, life is not about us.

Getting the Most From Have Counted Cost

As a rule, your personal finances are not all about you. When we pick to follow Christ, we must lay down all that we have and all that we are at His feet.

• We provide up our will and say to God, “Your will be done.” This has powerful implications for a Christian’s personal finances.
• We must begin asking ourselves if the financial decisions we’re making are ruled by our will or God’s will.
• In short, then we must make the choice of following Christ or walking down our own path.
• The problem is that we frequently fail to consciously consider those questions.

Tips That Make a Difference

When was the last time you said to yourself, “Should I genuinely purchase that iPhone, or does God wish me to do something else with the money?” Or perhaps, “I genuinely wish to have a vacation home. But does God desire that for my life?” Maybe this is you: “I can’t wait to have enough money so I can retire early and [travel, golf, relax] more.

• Worth noting: but I wonder how God would wish me to spend my retirement.
• Or would He even wish me to retire at all?!” The truth is that we rarely question our desires and motives like this.
• Instead, we go on about our lives following the norms of our culture without hesitation.
• Jesus is warning us to consider the cost of following Him since He knows we can’t follow Him unless we do this first.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

More importantly, otherwise, we’ll stick to our old methods and live as though nothing has changed. I’m not discounting the work of the Holy Spirit as we grow in Christ, but you have to be open to the Spirit’s working before you can expect to see change.

• If you haven’t counted the cost, how will you know what changes to pray for or look for in your life?
• Take time to count the cost now.
• Remember that realize that following Christ may mean giving up your dream home, your large luxuries, and even your little luxuries to pursue God and share His love with the world.
• Understand that Jesus calls us not to an straightforward life on Earth but to a difficult, arduous, and trying narrow path.

Is Have Counted Cost Worth It?

Consider that you may have to lay down your life if you wish to follow Jesus to the end. The Reward As the world sees it, there is a excellent cost to follow Jesus.

• As a rule, why would you wish to sacrifice your comfort to provide to the poor?
• Why worry about what God thinks of how you spend your time and money?
• How could you even think about giving up the retirement of your dreams, which you’ve worked so hard for, to honor God???
• But what the world doesn’t see is the excellent reward that comes from knowing Christ.

Where the Real Savings Hide

In short, the world can’t see the innumerable, everlasting heavenly riches that you have in Him. The world can’t see the joy of loving others even though it may require sacrifice on your part.

• The world can’t comprehend how the love of God could move you to live a life of contentment that overflows into generosity.
• Counting the cost will discourage anyone who doesn’t keep their eyes on the eternal reward we can have in Jesus Christ.
• Worth noting: if all you look at is your life in this world, then the aspects of this world will overpower the promises of God (at least in your mind) and you will at no point be able to follow Jesus.
• You will only go so far and then say, “Wait, I can’t do this.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on have counted cost?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. In Luke 14:26-33 we read: 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.

Is it worth shopping around for have counted cost?

Usually yes. 32 And if not, while the other is yet a excellent method off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

Smart Ways to Save More on Have Counted Cost

• Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
• Time non urgent purchases around major sale events for the deepest cuts.
• Leave items in your cart for a day; some stores send a follow up discount.
• Pair cashback with a coupon so you save twice on the same order.
• Stack a coupon code with an existing sale whenever the store allows it.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line on have counted cost: a little research goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is a click away.

Originally published at biblemoneymatters.com.