Do not be afraid of the cost of discipleship.

MAKE THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR FOLLOWING JESUS YOUR TOP PRIORITY. MAKE JESUS WAY OF BEING RIGHTEOUS YOUR WAY. THEN ALL SHALL BE WELL WITH YOU.

"Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

"Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?

"Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’

"Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?

"But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14: 25..... 33).

Sunday September 4th of the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

When you embark on a new project: building a home, a new career, moving to a new city, volunteering for a new ministry, etc. Rule #1 is sit down and count the cost. This will save you embarrassment and mockery from friends, family and neighbors. "This fellow started something he is unable to complete. He is foolish."

How then can we escape such a fate? The answer is in the first Reading for today:

"Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. .... Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your Holy Spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight." (Wisdom 9: 13.... 18).

To make good decisions, you need wisdom. Wisdom is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Solomon asked for wisdom rather than wealth, health and power. God answered him: "Here and now, I give you what you ask for." God added: And for what you did not ask for, I grant them to you in abundance!

The greatest wisdom is to know the shortcut to peace and prosperity:
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the rest will be given you."

If you are unwilling to renounce all your possessions to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, not only can you not be a disciple of Jesus Christ but you will be like the man who started a building he can never complete.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com