📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's mini-parable in Luke 14:28-30, paired with the king-going-to-war parable. A man intending to build a tower sits down first and reckons the cost — whether he has sufficient to finish. Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and is unable to finish, all who behold mock him: this man began to build, and was not able to finish. The application: count the cost of following Christ before signing on; half-built discipleship is more pitiable than no discipleship.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
TOWER BUILDER, n.
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A scriptural parable of Christ; the tower-builder counting the cost.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 14:28 — "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"
Luke 14:29 — "Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him."
Luke 14:30 — "Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."
Luke 14:33 — "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity recruits without counting the cost; Christ recommended doing the math first.
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Christ's tower-builder parable is one of the most counter-intuitive recruitment pieces in history. He warned prospective disciples to do the math first — not just the spiritual benefit but the cost. Half-built discipleship draws mockery; the unfinished tower is worse than no tower at all because it advertises failure publicly.
Modern Christianity often recruits without counting the cost — just pray this prayer; God loves you. Christ recommended a different method: count the cost; surrender all; then come. The disciple who finishes is the one who knew before starting that everything would be required. Sit down. Reckon the cost. Then build.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G4444 — pyrgos — tower
G2914 — kosmos — cost (related)
Usage
"Modern Christianity recruits without counting the cost; Christ recommended doing the math first."
"Half-built discipleship draws mockery; unfinished tower is worse than no tower."
"Sit down; reckon the cost; then build."