In making important decisions, I learned to "count the cost" by seeking wise counsel, creating a plan, and going to God for guidance, ensuring that my choices align with His will and consider their impact on myself and others.
“Count the cost,” I whispered to my friend after making a big decision. The decision she had to make would impact not only her life but many other lives. She was contemplating a job change that would affect her income, her family, and her local church. Because her reasons for leaving were not necessarily biblical, she took a significant risk by leaving the job abruptly. She also admitted that she had not heard from God on this matter. She only wanted to go because she disliked the difficult people she worked with.
Knowing her personality, I knew she would jump into something haphazardly, not thinking about what it would cost if it didn't work out or ended abruptly. While many decisions in life can cost us considerably, the Lord wants us to count the cost when it comes to any decisions we make. Christians need to consider any big decisions and not take them lightly.
Because I'm a type A personality, I tend to jump as soon as I feel a sense of the Holy Spirit. But just because I think something does not mean I must act immediately. Sometimes, the Lord gives me something to ponder, consider, and plan for before I act. Other times, he makes it clear that it is time to act immediately. Discerning between the two can be very difficult. Therefore, counting the cost of every significant decision we make is essential. Here's how I learned to count the cost:
I Sought Wise Counsel
As someone who tends to live life alone, I find it difficult to ask for help. Additionally, I only have a select few people in my life that I could trust to go to for wise counsel. This is because these people have been through challenging circumstances and have matured and grown in their faith exponentially. We often surround ourselves with “yes men” who are there to encourage us and say whatever we want to hear.
However, we need encouraging people and people who will challenge us in our decisions. Even if they say things we don't want to hear, we must consider the message even if we don't like the messenger.
By seeking wise counsel, I seek the help of those who think and do things opposite me. By seeking the help of those who believe differently, I see perspectives in new ways. It also strengthens me and increases my versatility and resilience in difficult decisions. Not only does it allow me to wait patiently but also to consider other people's point of view.
When I can discern people's motives and know they have my best interest at heart, I know what they say is important, even if I don't take their advice. I know they are looking out for my best interests.
Sometimes, people want to tell people what they want to hear because they want to comfort them or make them feel better in a difficult situation. But it is also essential to seek the help of those willing to say the hard things to help us consider where we may be wrong and discern our motives. It is not always easy to determine what our motives are. If our motives are selfish, the decision may not be the right one to make. We need to put the Lord first in every decision we make. By seeking wise counsel, we seek the help of those without a stake in our decision. They can look at it soberly, considering all sides, and arrive at a conclusion that might be best for us.
I Made a Plan
However, with the Lord, there's not always time or a way to plan when dealing with difficult situations. However, God gave us logic and critical thinking skills for a reason. We are different than any other animal on earth because we can reason through a situation. We should not only plan but also consider what our decision will cost us.
For example, standing up for wrongdoing in your church might suit your integrity. However, God may not be calling you to make that decision. You must consider if other people can call out that lack of integrity and be the person who will achieve peace and stability instead.
While it is always important to stand up for what's right, you may not always be the person who needs to call it out. Sometimes, God will call other people out and use them. When a decision can cause this much fallout, we must consider whether that fallout is worth taking the risk. While it is always important to do the right thing, it may not be the right decision if calling someone out costs innocent people a home, food, or basic needs.
Once I've thought through a decision and understood why I might be doing it, I discern whether I can make a plan. For example, if I make a job change that would impact my income, I must make a financial plan to determine how to recoup my costs. Are there other job opportunities that would fit that gap in income? Are there other places I can live in that may be cheaper and would still give me a house and allow me not to bear the enormous burden of a mortgage?
Planning is not wrong in and of itself. While God may call us to take faithful risks many times throughout our spiritual journey, having a plan in mind is essential because the one thing we can't control is other people. God gave us logic for a reason. We are to use logic to think through our decisions thoroughly.
To wing it through life is not what God has intended. Although there are times when God wants us to trust Him and take a faith-filled risk, planning is from God. If other people make a decision that could significantly impact and cost us dearly, we must plan how to restore what we've lost.
I Go to God
Before anything else, I go to God with my decision. Ultimately, he will be the one who will guide and direct me as to whether that decision is the correct one. However, it is tempting to participate in Scripture or prayer time to meet my needs.
God needs to speak not only into the situation but also into my soul. Are there issues or things preventing me from seeing the situation? When I continue to work on my soul issues and ensure I'm clean before God, I can discern and see the situation clearly for what it is. Then, I can determine whether I'm doing something with pure and honest motives. Because the Holy Spirit tells me the one who sees into my soul, I need to ask for his help in figuring out the right thing to do at the right time.
Counting the cost is essential for everyone who wants to follow God. Doing things God's way is always the right way. By counting the cost of any significant decision, I not only avoid pitfalls that may cost me dearly but also see a situation clearly for what it is and make the right decision with God's help.
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