Jesus talked to the large crowd following Him about loving God first in their lives and counting the cost of following Him.  (Luke 14:25-27)
  He then told a story to illustrate this truth: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

 (NASB) Luke 14:28-33 paraphrased
  Before you build a tower, you calculate the cost to see if you have enough money and materials to complete it.  If you lay a foundation but are unable to complete the tower, you will be ridiculed for not completing the building.

  Or if you are a leader of a country and you are going into battle but your adversary has double the amount of men in his army, a wise leader will send a delegation and ask for terms of peace.

  Then Jesus said something hard to hear: “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.”
  What?!!!  Why that is sacrificial!  Yes, it is…and that is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for you and me.

   Consider this using the above parable or story Jesus told:  individuals, families, businesses, churches, governments – where are we not counting the cost and exceeding our budgets…using charge cards, printing money without anything of value to back it up, exceeding our incoming funds…foolish, foolish, foolish!

  Responsible fiscal leadership will be sacrificial and costly. 

  Consider carefully the consequences of spending more than incoming resources.

  Consider carefully the cost of following Christ ~ there is a cost, Jesus said count the cost of following Him.
  Why?  Because following Him demands whole-hearted commitment and that is sacrificial commitment.
(NASB) Romans 12:1 “THEREFORE I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” 

Jesus gave His ultimate sacrifice for you ~ He expects nothing less of you!