Counting the Cost

This week's Torah Portion, Ki Tisa כִּי תִשָּׂא (When you Count), based on Exodus 30:11-34:35, we are reminded to count the cost of all we do in our lifetime. We often forget that all of life has a cost. In business this time is called an opportunity cost. It means we have a finite amount of resources in life. The three biggests constraints we are given are time (schedule), money (resources), and quality (scope). In project management, my career, this is called the triple constraint. The rule is that if you improve one the other two have to pay the price. If you want it done faster, you will either have to increase resources or suffer in quality. If you want it done well, you will have to increase resources or do it slower. If you want to do it cheaply, then you have to do it slower or suffer in quality. One restraint affects the other. They are intrically connected.

Life is no different. I have stated in my book that all of life's goals are projects. Outside of keeping things going, new goals are essentially projects. A project is defined as, "a piece of planned work or an activity which is done over a period of time and intended to achieve a particular purpose." It must have a set date to begin and end, or it is considered operations to keep things going in business. So, in life, if you want to lose 10lbs in one month, that is if fact a project. However, your normal daily diet would be considered operational work. God understands this fundimental truth and reminds us in His Word to keep that in mind. He often tells the leaders of Israel to take count and keep a census so they could understand where they stand in the world. It is a very important lesson that is unfortunately ignored by most people. When it comes to business, most people are aware of this and do it instinctively, but when it comes to our spiritual life, most are blissfully unaware. God often reminds us that our lives have a grander purpose. We were not put on earth to earn wealth and pile it up to then die and leave it all behind. There is a grander plan and He often reminds us to be aware of it and keep count of our activities.

Count the cost of being a follower of Jesus and servant of the LORD. Do not fail in life.

I spoke about opportunity cost. That is the cost you MUST count when you do something else. Time I spend watching Netflix is time I will never gain back. Though there is nothing wrong with setting time out for entertainment, that time cost me something. It would be time I could have been speding with my daughter, wife, or family. It would be time I could be finishing my second book. It is time I've used for one opportunity that will cost all other opportunities. That is where God tells us to keep count and be aware of how we spend our time. What have you been doing with your time? Are you spending all you time on earthly things and neglecting the spiritual. Even so, which can be equally damaging, are you spending all your time praying, reading scriptures, but not acting in the physical realm to make these virtues become a blessing is someone's lives? See, I believe the managing of these "opportunities" require certain wisdom. We need to ask the LORD for His Spirit's wisdom to manage this time wisely. The main focust today is, be aware. Be aware of the time you are given and how you are using it. That is my challenge for you today.

Jesus said, "Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’ Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:28-33

Consider the cost and take action. Shalom Ve'Shavuah Tov.