Parables about the Importance of Planning (Luke 14:25-35)

Jesus told the large crowd that was travelling with him that for a person to be his disciple, a characteristic they had to possess is they should not think their family members were the most important people to please in life. Whether that is their parents, siblings or even their spouse. Jesus also let them know that another important characteristic of a disciple was the ability to carry your cross and follow Him (Jesus).

Then Jesus explained the importance of planning to them.

The Parable of the Tower Builder (Luke 14:28-30):

“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? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ – NIV

Luke 14: 28-30

Jesus used this parable to tell the crowd the importance of planning. Jesus tells us that if one of us wants to build a tower, we are first supposed to estimate how much the total cost will be to complete the building. This is important because it is possible to start a project but not have the ability to finish it. When this happens people get the opportunity to ridicule and make fun of us for starting something but being unable to finish it.

The Parable of the Warring King (Luke 14:31-33)

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. – NIV

Luke 14:31-33

Jesus also tells the crowd this parable where the situation is different but the lesson is the same. The difference between this parable and the first one is this situation is very intense and distressing. However, planning is still key. The warring king needs to estimate the number of men in his army and compare that to the number of men in the opposing army. The warring king then has to decide if will be able to fight the war and win or if he should ask the opposing army for peace because he believes he will lose the war.

Significance of the Tower Builder & The Warring King:

In both parables, although they are in different situations both the builder and the king must carefully think through what they must do, plan, execute and then face the consequences of their actions.