When Faith Requires Wisdom - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - January 29, 2026
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" Luke 14:28
A dear friend had an idea for a new business venture. He wanted to start his own business. His goals were lofty, but his budget was not. He took out many loans, hoping to pay them back once customers began pouring in to buy his products. However, due to a lack of basic business understanding and limited income, the company did not last long. This left him wracked with bills he could not pay, and his loans went into default.
One day, the friend recalled his time with the business. He could not understand why God didn't honor his work. He had done everything he was supposed to do, bought all the inventory, took out the loans, filed the business paperwork, and waited for sales to skyrocket. But when they didn't, he became jaded not only with his new venture but also with his spiritual life.
This failed career caused him to doubt God's goodness and sovereignty. Believing that he had been called by God to start the business, only to have it fail in a short time, tested his faith in ways he never could have expected.
While we are all called to grow in our faith and to take risks for God, God also calls us to use common sense. He wants us to use wisdom and discernment, two spiritual gifts that not only help us know God's word but also how to apply it to our lives. Scripture tells us that it is essential to consider the financial and spiritual costs of our decisions.
If a business venture, for example, will cause us to spend all our savings because we think we're just going to make it back through sales, we are badly mistaken. The economy dictates that local businesses do not fare well in a bad economy. Furthermore, online businesses are less hassle and, with less overhead, can increase their chances of success.
We must count the cost before we do anything in life. Whether we feel God calling us to do something or not, we must weigh the pros and cons. We must consider the physical, mental, and spiritual toll our decisions have not only on ourselves but also on our families. For example, a husband should never make any decision without his wife's approval. Finally, poor stewardship is an abuse of his headship of the home.
As a spiritual leader, he is to respect and honor his wife, even serving her. If she has doubts about a new business venture or any other life-altering decision, both should carefully weigh the options and reach an agreement. Neither party should be in staunch disagreement over what to do. One person must submit to the other and support the other.
God never wants us to make any decisions that would wreak havoc on our emotional or spiritual lives. He also wants us to think about the impact it will have on our families. You may feel called to a decision, but your family may not. This must be taken into consideration before a decision is made.
Furthermore, if the situation fails, you must take responsibility for your role in the matter. Making a hasty decision without the approval of a loved one whose life will be directly affected is not something God will honor. You may be able to make a hasty business decision that feels good in the short term, but the long-term consequences can lead to financial, mental, emotional, and spiritual ruin.
Count the cost of any decision you are about to make. Consider what will happen if the situation fails. If God chooses not to honor your decision, what will the financial, physical, mental, and emotional toll take on your family?
Father, let us be people who count the cost of every decision we make. Let us use our common sense, wisdom, and discernment to make good, wise decisions for you. If we are being asked to take a step of faith, let us, in unity, take that step together. Amen.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Sixteen Miles Out
