“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish”. Luke 14:28-30

A tower is magnificent in all ramifications; it stands tall and one can’t help but notice it. Can you imagine how much it would cost to erect one? Quite a huge amount, coupled with a lot of sacrifices, determination and inconveniences. But a tower is only built when the price is paid and the cost is met. 

In the same vein, there is a price to pay for every attainment in life and just like an eagle goes through different stages of growth, we have a price to pay for the eagle in us to soar. That means, there is a price attached to every prize.

In the opening scripture, Jesus gave an example of the result of starting something without first counting the cost. Buildings don’t just exist, they are built by men, who must first plan carefully and count the cost. Hebrews 3:4 says that “…every house is builded by some man…” 

Towers don’t just appear, they are erected. We must know what our towers will cost and be determined to pay the price. Success is not just a dream come true, but a dream made true. Greatness is not just a goodly heritage, it is an attainment. We are children of God and we have a goodly heritage. Psalm 16:6 says: 

“The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage”.

However, to attain this heritage, we must pay the price. Many years ago, I was invited as a guest speaker to a Christian gathering at Warri, in the then Bendel State (Mid-Western region of Nigeria). Due to other pressing engagements, I was unable to go. So, I sent an associate minister with a letter to represent me.

When the minister got there with my letter, the people were disappointed but they reluctantly allowed him to minister. At the end of the meeting, this minister was invited to come back for a programme later that year.

You see, my letter of recommendation couldn’t see him through; he had to earn his way. David earned his way to greatness when he killed Goliath. There is a pathway to greatness; no one succeeds by accident. Deuteronomy 28:1 lays this down: 

“…if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high…”

There is what to hearken to, what to observe and what to do, before we can be “set on high”. King Saul did not follow the way of God. He neither hearkened, observed, nor did what God commanded; so, he fell. The pathway to greatness is following God’s leading to the letter.

Following God in obedience establishes a covenant of greatness, which is the only form of greatness that lasts. When the Lord called me to Ministry, I counted the cost, knew the price I was to pay and went in. To make it impossible for me to make a detour, I burnt the bridge behind me by telling God: In case I pretend not to have heard You and I want to do other things in life, may I never succeed in those things.

I had to do this because I knew the price I had to pay might become so magnified in my own eyes that I might turn away from what God had called me to do. I had to burn the bridge behind me because I wanted to obey God, no matter the cost. Jesus is our perfect example; because He wanted to obey His Father, He went through all manner of hardships. He had no house, no family; he was despised, mocked, flogged and, finally, He had to bear the shame of being hanged naked on the Cross. He died the death of the worst criminal. Why? He wanted “The Tower”. Hebrews 12:2 says: 

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. 

In Philippians 2:6-9, we are told of Jesus:

“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 men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name”.

Jesus was born the Son of God but this was not enough to earn Him automatic greatness. He had to learn obedience to become great. He had to pay the cost for His “Tower”. He knew the weight of glory laid before Him and the price He needed to pay to get there. Therefore, He fixed His eyes on the glory and ensured nothing distracted Him. Peter thought He was being of help by telling Him that such hardships were not for Him, but Jesus said: 

“Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:23).

There is a path to greatness and Jesus took it. He didn’t inherit His exalted position, He earned it. He didn’t get there by accident; He purchased it by paying the appropriate price. Are you ready to follow suit?

Would you take that path to greatness? Then, locate where you want to go and move forward. Consider not the size of the situation; instead, count the cost and be ready to pay the price. Remember, as noted earlier, the eagle doesn’t just fly or go about flapping its wings.

Rather, it waits for the wind and knows the direction to go; and it rides without stress on the wind. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Let go of your experiences, abilities and strength; then, look to God in obedience. You will not be a victim of disobedience, in Jesus’ name!

It is important to understand that God’s plan and purpose for the redeemed is to enjoy unending success. However, God’s success plan is not a promise, but a covenant. This implies that until our part is adequately played, God is not committed to deliver. As it is written…

This text is an extract from the book “FOLLOWING THE PATH OF THE EAGLE” written by David O. Oyedepo. 
We invite you to read the following article “Diligence Delivers Us From Some Awful Vices Of Life“.