HAVE YOU EVER DONE A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS?

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” ― Luke 14:28.

A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a systematic process used to evaluate the economic feasibility of a project or decision by comparing its projected costs and benefits. It involves listing all costs and benefits, converting them to a common monetary value, and then comparing them to determine if the potential benefits outweigh the costs. The project is generally considered worthwhile if the benefits exceed the costs.

Cost-benefit analysis is pretty common in business, but what about doing a CBA with Jesus? How do we weigh the benefits versus the costs of following Jesus? Many people want to follow Jesus but without thinking about the hard parts because following Jesus is hard. The Apostle Paul knew the cost of following Jesus. He wrote in a letter, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

What will it cost you to follow Jesus? Each of us has our cross to carry, and your struggle may differ from others, but the challenging part is you don’t get to pick your struggle. Jesus does. If you follow Jesus, you’ll need to trust Him. Trusting Jesus even when you don’t know the details of how He’s going to do it. You don’t even know where the difficulties are. You don’t know the details, but you follow Jesus because you trust them. You follow because you think He can care for you, even if you don’t know how. You trust Him. In other words, it is faith.

Abram was a man with amazing faith. “The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). For Abram, the cost of following the Lord is that you have to leave your home and go to a different country. You would have questions. Where are we going? How long will we be gone? How far away is it? Is it hot there or cold? What’s my job going to be? Abram didn’t get to know those details. So, does he trust the Lord? Verse 4 says, “So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed…” If you keep following Jesus, you’ll need to trust Him.

So how did Abram do that? The Lord promised him that it would be worth it. He said, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3).

It will be worth it for you too. You don’t know what it will cost you to keep following Jesus. Following Jesus can lead to a more profound sense of joy and happiness, rooted in faith, hope, and the love of God. While happiness can be found in various aspects of life, the promise of eternal life and a relationship with God through Jesus offers a unique and profound source of joy that transcends earthly limitations.

Discussion Questions:

Following Christ means dying to yourself. What does that mean in practical terms?
Do your views and opinions influence your friends? Why or why not? How do your peers respect your beliefs and values?