Duff House: Count the Cost

This year I visited Duff House on the outskirts of Banff in Northern Scotland. It’s a fine eighteenth century mansion in a baroque style, complete with the usual crockery sets displayed on dining tables and art works of national importance. I was surprised to see some rather crude stonework on its southwest wall. Fortunately, I was accompanied by a local historian who was able to explain why.

The plans for the original house were to be much grander, with curved east and west wings protruding from the mansion. The rough stonework was where the masons began, but were forced to stop when the architect, William Adam, fell out with his employer, William Duff, Lord Braco and Earl of Fife. The reason for the quarrel was spiralling costs; the noble lord felt that the architect was spending his money a little too freely. A five-year legal dispute followed which was found in Adam’s favour. Sadly he died before he could recoup his losses and the noble lord refused to spend a night in the house which had cost him so dearly. I cannot but wonder why the two didn’t sit down together properly and plan for the extra costs.

Before we become Christians, we should count the cost. Like a businessman considering an investment, or a nobleman building a palace, we must weigh up the costs vs the benefits. As a Christ-follower, you’ll be ridiculed, despised or ignored. In return, you’ll receive strength for this life and glory in the next. Each one must weigh up the relative value of each.

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14

Remember, there’s a beautiful mansion in Scotland with a rather ugly, unfinished-looking wall. There are people in hades who decided that the value of worldly pleasures exceeded anything that Christ could give them.