COUNT THE COST, THEN BUILD YOUR HOUSE
COUNT THE COST, THEN BUILD YOUR HOUSE
Many years ago, I knew a few people who were securing loans in order to buy plots of land which they eventually built houses on to live in them. At the time, (and maybe even now, still), it was a big deal to be a landlord and not a tenant. They would start by putting up a structure like the boys quarters to start living in; until they were later able to build a main house. Sadly though, some of them never got to build the main houses. As I am not a financial adviser or expert on financial matters, it is not my place to say if what they were doing then was wrong or right. Sometime ago also, I saw a “Whatsapp” status saying it was okay if a person had not yet bought or built a house; and that whenever they would be ready, some of those who were previous home owners might be looking to sell.
I was thinking all the above was quite interesting until I heard what God Himself had to say! And to drive the point home,please allow me to use two different bible translations just so there is absolute clarity.
“Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.” Proverbs 24:27 NLT
“Don’t build your house and establish a home until your fields are ready , and you are sure that you can earn a living.” Proverbs 24:27 Good News Translation
The bottom line of the above scripture is to do first things first. Developing a business it seems should be the priority before thinking of building a house. Unless of course you are in the business of property development. And even then it will not be in ones best interest to start living in the house that one has built for business purposes.
The sum total of this scripture is really just to encourage us to be methodical or deliberate in all that we do. Ever heard the saying by Winston Churchill “He who fails to plan, plans to fail”? Exactly what we are being counselled about here. Plan ahead! We must learn to put first things first, put things in the proper order, learn to prioritise. Failure to do this is akin to recklessness and that is a hot recipe for disaster.
I do not know what you are dealing with now, are you a new mum, for example, your priority right now should be that little one entrusted in your care by our Heavenly Father, for as parents we are just custodians. Or are you worrying that most of your friends own property in choice neighbourhoods in the city, listen, you do not know how they came about that, some took out loans and are struggling with paying back, some have not developed their businesses yet and are now stranded as funds to carry on went into the house. And still some are living out a well laid out plan that they have been working on for decades while others were busy living each day as it came by. Or are you feeling bad that you are still a tenant paying rent to someone, fret not dear one. Focus on that venture you started a little while back. Before long it will yield more than enough to expand and much more to build your own house. Do you know there are some people who have built houses but are now asking friends to help them pay their children’s school fees? Even Jesus said “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 NLT
For those of us in our fifties for example are we still trying to compete with the younger ones in their thirties and forties? I dare say though that what was first thing and top priority five years ago might not necessarily be so right now. Quite honestly we need to be counting the cost there you know? Gone are the days we could stand on stilettos all day, or eat or drink anything whenever we felt like. We need to be counting the cost there too. Are you still hopping from social function to social function? Please start counting the cost. What are we investing our time, our energy and our resources in now? Be sure it is worthwhile. Count the cost.
It is now time for us all to be intentional and very deliberate in all that we do.
The year 2020 has shown that a lack of planning can get one into very serious trouble.
Take care of what is most important first, count the cost, then. ..BUILD YOUR HOUSE.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©