Return to Index.

Fall Holy Days are a Result of Counting the Costs
September 24, 2011

Today's shrinking economic realities and rising prices have us all figuring out new ways to maintain our standard of living and to develop sustainable budget reductions. I recently wrote about this. Many are reluctant to go into debt, and for those who do, they must really consider the economic benefits and contrast this to the perils created by this debt. There once was a time when going into debt on an impulse item might have had a level of sustainability. Now many who are underwater on their homes and who are experiencing job loss and wage reductions have to carefully consider spending habits and the implications related to each transaction. Giving careful consideration to how we spend money can be useful and in the long-term give reason for those who are concerned with family finances to develop strategies to spend more while maintaining the comforts of home. This type of thought process helps me to remember the Bible's adage thatwe must remember to count the costs.

Luke 14:25-35
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The application of this passage to today's economic realities is in having enough money to complete planned activities. This particular passage is more than a passage on economic planning, and brings confusion to some. This is a passage on the need to have a continuing commitment to God and to never give up on God. Some get hung up on the idea of hating ones family and life. The Greek word for hate, miseo, simply means to love less by comparison. If we are disciples of Jesus, we love our family members and even our own life less than we love Jesus and God. It is when we get our priorities mixed up we run the risk of losing our savor, and to be cast out and no longer considered a disciple of Jesus. And the Bible shows that in the modern age, this attitude is very possible.

Matthew 24:32-51
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Bible shows that during the end time only half of those called will have counted the cost and endure until the end. Maybe the number given in this passage is literal and accurate, or maybe the number is figurative and used to provide a comparison between these two outcomes. Regardless of which is correct regarding this passage, the fact remains there are only two results to consider, one very positive, and one very negative. Even though times are financially tough,the financial situation is no reason to turn away from Jesus, God, and salvation. As times become tough financially, it is normal to stress out concerning our needs, and sometimes this stress can lead us to make bad decisions.

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jesus knew we would have a life filled with stress. His message to us is to not stress about things to come or over things past, but to concern ourselves with today, and how by living a life obedient to Jesus today, will get us to where we need to go. God knows our needs even before we ask. He will give us what we need even before we know what we need. Unlike those who do not know God, we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and God's righteousness. When we have our priorities straight, God will give us what we need. Even when we are doing this, we need to remember that each day is filled with evil, and we cannot use our current situation as a reason to question God. Rather we should use our faith as a reason to affirm the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth. Sadly most \modern Christians disavows the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God because modern Christianity has mostly forgotten about God's Holy Days. Among these is the Feast of Trumpets, which is celebrated in 2011 from sunset on Wednesday September 28th through sunset Thursday September 29th. Those among us who are apostolic, first-century Christians do observe this day with the Christian meaning of the return of Jesus. The fall holy days are soon upon us and point towards the glorious Kingdom of God.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
Copyright and Legal Information
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information