“Suppose
one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the
cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Luke
14:28 NIV
The
verse above is Jesus speaking about becoming one of His disciples and following
Him. Yet the past couple of days, I have had this verse on my mind in a different
way, but meaning the same thing in the end. What am I talking about? Well many
people are speaking of forgiveness. Bishop T.D. Jakes has a book entitled – Let it go, and it was much of
the conversation during the Life Class Oprah put on this spring (the Bishop was
a part of it). I am not knocking this because it is right on, but I am going to
speak on what to do before, reduce the occasions of having to forgive; having
to rebuild, or restore what was lost. Before the forgiveness, there is a time
period for many of us, where we have the opportunity to count the cost of what
we are about to do, say, or co-sign on, prior to anything occurring. WE must
take inventory, count the cost of what we are about to engage in, before
acting.
See
at the end of all things, it is your actions, deeds done. Negative behavior will
always take you in the unknown places you never wanted to be. It will give rise
to people’s perception of you, and they shall use it to speak into your life or
speak themselves and others out of your life. Yet, we rarely ever count the
cost, where we take inventory of what of our motives for the words, actions, or
deeds, we are about to engaged. However, we are most disappointed when things
do not work out according to our expectation000, or someone responds in a way
we do not like. Maybe if we would take inventory, count the cost of it before
we ‘do, say or co-sign’ on a thing. We would increase our success rate of
getting what is important. At the same time, reduce the bickering, the
animosity, hurt, bruised egos, or times we have to say – I am sorry, or I
apologize.
Our
lives are but the subplots of the bigger picture. Having the resolve to manage
ones anger allows for a more accurate assessment of why we are doing, what we
are doing. To see if we have a reason, for doing the thing, and are we ‘calling
the thing, the thing’, or is brought about by our emotional angst. Not to say,
emotions don’t have a place, but they should not drive the train of growth;
otherwise we fail to appreciate the process is part of the journey to succeed. For
an eye for eye, leaves not only all parties involved blind but also hurt,
pained, and stunted. So, the next time you decide to act, say, or co-sign, ask
yourself – does this create enmity, ill
will? am I acting from a place of hurt, self-centeredness, or for the greater
good? See it is not about me, or us, but God; counting the cost. Your choice...wink
