Building the Life of a Disciple

The Lord Jesus is here speaking to the great multitudes that went with him the parable of the tower in order that they might realize that the life of a disciple was not something that could happen to them because they were following Him from place to place; the life of a disciple was something that had to be built. Surely there were among the multitude many who had no intention of building anything at all, but were following out of curiosity or for the loaves and the fishes. When the Lord Jesus said “which of you intending to build a tower” He, but these words divided his audience. He was talking only to those who could imagine themselves with serious intentions of building a tower. The man of the parable “intending to build a tower” had that intention because of the circumstances in which he found himself. He had need of a tower and the building of one would supply him with something that he lacked. The intention came as the result of the need, and although the intention was not something that could be seen, the moment he decided seriously to build, he separated himself from those who have no purpose in life. He had set a goal for himself.

So far so good, but towers are not built by good intentions alone; the words that follow “sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” show us our man taking the next step and for this he will need to know two things. The first, the cost of the tower, that is, the cost to complete it. What he has in mind is a complete tower and what he needs to know is how much it will cost, so he sits down and begins to count. As he begins to figure faithfully the cost of the materials and soon has the matter figured out. The tower that he has in mind will cost so much. He now knows what he wants and he knows how much it will cost. Now he needs to know “whether he have sufficient to finish it.” A few calculations and he knows exactly where he stands. There is no doubt about the matter, nor is there any mystery in it. He either can build the town or he cannot. He knows exactly where he stands. If he has enough to finish it, he is ready to start to build; if not, the building of the tower must be postponed until he is able to get “sufficient to finish it.” These common-sense things are done in order that he might not have to suffer the mockery of the passers-by.

The Lord Jesus was saying to his hearers by the parable of the tower that if there were those among them who were conscious of a need in their lives, if there were those who intended to attain to a life of discipleship, then they had better sit down and count the cost, and as they had no way of knowing just what that cost would be, He told them in verse 33:

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

When the sincere persons in the multitude heard these words, they were in the same place as the man in the parable when he finished counting the cost. They knew where they stood. The next move was theirs. If they were able to measure up to verse 33, they could start to build; if not, they had better wait until they could meet the requirements. Possibly as Jesus was speaking these words, in the towns from which many in the multitude had come it was being said “A has gone to follow Jesus.” “B has become a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth.” But the Lord Jesus knew that just leaving home was not enough, but that if they really desired to build, they would, at last, have to leave all that they had. This “forsaking all that he hath” was not just a way that Jesus had of testing his followers. The stern requirement of v. 33, the cost, was to be exacted by the events that were to follow. The Lord Jesus knew how much more difficult it would be to follow him when the multitude had dwindled to just a few, He knew how much there would be left of the things that they then had after days of reproach had stripped them of their pride. He knew what the sight of their Lord crucified between two thieves would do to their faith. He knew that in the end there would be just a handful of disciples, stripped of all that they once had been. But He knew too, that having counted the cost and paid the price they’d get their tower; and they did.

Centuries have passed since these words were spoken by the Lord Jesus. He, having counted the cost, paid the price on Calvary.

The words of the parable come to us today and again separate those who seriously desire to get what they knew they need from those who more or less frivolously follow along. The question comes to us; do we still, in the light of verse 33, want our tower? Is it as attractive as ever to us in the light of these seemingly hard conditions? Do we grasp the truth that if the tower is as costly as that, it must be something well worthwhile? If we still want our tower and if we are willing to pay the price then we should tell the Lord Jesus about it; our business is with Him. That is what we should do. The parable teaches us that the building of a tower (a life of discipleship) is a serious business and that we should not undertake it thoughtlessly and that the penalty for doing so will be the sight of an unfinished tower and the mockery of the passers-by.

Quite possibly there are those who thing that as the price is so high and as there does not seem to be so very much difference between a man who builds and one who does not, they will, though they realize their need, give up the tower building idea, the idea of a closer walk with God, and leave things as they are. There is, however, a greater difference between he who builds and he who does not, than they think. We have seen what the penalty is for entering into the business thoughtlessly. Verse 34 reads “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?” and verse 34 tells us that is it fit for nothing. Quite possibly the Lord Jesus Christ is telling us here what happens to those who decide to have nothing to do with tower-building discipleship. Their portion is a savourless life.

There are then before us these three possibilities.

The first, that of paying the price and getting our tower.

The second, that of entering thoughtlessly into the business and reaping disappointment and mockery.

The third, that of deciding to have nothing further to do with tower building and ending with a savourless, fit-for-nothing, life.

Let us choose the first, and by so doing become true followers of our Lord, who paid the price,

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man; And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

and who received His tower.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).