Wala

A Term Paper

On

The Parable About The Tower Builder

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

In

Religion – 22

New Testament Mission on Philippines

Submitted By:

Kristel C. Contreras

Submitted To:

Mr. Emerenciano E. Guazon Jr.

“The Parable About The Tower Builder”

Text:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

Setting:

* On a mountain side

Characters:

* Jesus

* People

Biblical Interpretation:

The parable risks serious loss if the builder doesn't carefully plan ahead.  In a shame and honor culture he would want to avoid at all costs being mocked by his community for failing to complete a task he began in earnest. This parable echoes the instruction of Proverb: "By wisdom a house is built" (Proverbs 24:3-6). Every landowner who could afford it walled in his orchard as a protection from intruders who might steal or harm his produce. A tower was usually built in a corner of the wall and a guard posted especially during harvest time when thieves would likely try to make off with the goods.  Starting a building-project, like a watchtower, and leaving it unfinished because of poor planning would invite the scorn of the whole village. 

Do you count the cost before you undertake something important or before something of consequence is about to happen to you? Jesus' parable of the tower builder challenges us to consider whether we count the cost where it really matters. The builder of the tower is free to chose whether he will build or not. He must carefully think through what he must do and then face the consequences of his actions. When Jesus calls us to be his disciple, he wants us to be clear about what it will...