Counting the Cost

We should be men who are engaged in not just making ourselves better, but making others and our community better as well.

Men should not be hiding behind our phones (or whatever) watching people - we need to engage, take a step to make a difference, insert ourselves into a situation to make it better!

Men have to reject the apathy of inaction. We have to be intentional.

West Point’s Four Appropriate Responses:

1. Yes sir.
2. No sir.
3. No excuse sir.
4. Sir, I do not understand.

 

Default setting for most people - it’s not my responsibility. As a man, YOU have ownership and responsibility - whether you take it or not. Men, you need to step up and TAKE IT.

Whose fault is it? Mine.

GK Chesterton. What’s wrong with the world? I am.  Personal responsibility - I can take action, do something - stop worrying about what others aren’t doing, YOU do something to make the situation better. Manhood isn’t about being a spectator - it’s about being on the field, in the arena!

Theodore Roosevelt - “Man in the Arena” - It’s not the critic that counts....

West Point - “In absence of further orders, attack.” Don’t sit there and wait...do something!

IF something is wrong - and I see it - I own it, I take action.

Broken window theory - if there’s a broken window, it gives the impression that things aren’t being taken care of. Take away - look for the small things to address and make sure you keep up with the little things because they send a message about the whole.

New York - Mayor Rudy Giuliani - took all the graffiti off all the subway trains…what “small” things do you need to pay attention to which address the larger concepts in your life?

I need you to do this. Why? Why do we do what we do - “at whose pleasure am I serving?” We need to be men of action because we’ve been called to do great and mighty things. Our why is love - and action springs from love.

You’re going to have to sacrifice. Action will cost you either your preference or your pride.

Important to count the cost - what are you willing to pay to do the action that you should be doing - there are things that men NEED to do that actually cost you to do them - valuable things always come at a cost!

Cost/Benefit Analysis - what ARE you providing for your family? Is material success, at the cost of time invested in your family, worth it?

The “fuel” that you get from personal achievement runs out - the “fuel” you get from a life worth living, the “examined” life devoted to something greater than yourself...that fuel will sustain you.

Mike Thornberry - “Everyone wants to follow Christ until He actually tells you where He wants you to go.”

Action Plan - STOP, count the cost of the path you’re on - if you achieve everything that you want to achieve, what will the cost be to get to where you want to be? What if you could only achieve your top priority...what would that be?