Luke 14:27-33
Before I go into specifics, there is the general need to first count the cost of whether or not you want to follow God.
I begin with this aspect of discipleship for a number of reasons: it is central to an understanding of commitment to Jesus, was taught as such by Jesus Himself (see above scripture), and is virtually ignored in pop Christian culture.
Everything has a cost. While I spend time writing this article, there are any number of things I am not doing.
We make decisions based on either momentary desire or ignorance, which is short-sighted; or we decide based upon a more long term understanding of value, which is wisdom. Both ways of living betray our real priorities.
Short-sightedness is ruled by either emotion (I like this!), obligation (I have to do this!), or fear (I’ll get in trouble if I don’t do this!). All of these reasons are bondage and unstable in the long run. Wisdom sees the end from the beginning and orders life to dilligently seek a greater reward than immediate pleasure.
Olympic athletes are the latter. They constantly make decisions and rigorously order their life to accomplish their goal. I know of no Olympic gold medalist that didn’t sacrifice a “normal” life to have the privilege of a pretty lump of metal hung around their neck.
And despite the countless scriptures that support this as the only means of following God, we ignore the necessity of counting this cost.
“So what is the cost?” you might ask.
Well, what have you got?
“No, really, how much is the cost?”
I’m asking, what have you got?
The cost is always whatever you have.
But again, while some may see this as mean or sadistic, it is not. It is a measure of whether you understand the value of what you see. People who want some sort of spiritual life insurance policy look for the minimal payment. People who really want to follow God give all they have because they understand the value they get in return.
God offers, through Jesus Christ, quite a deal. You give Him all of you, and you get all of Him. You don’t get both. There’s an exchange. If you have a true revelation of who God is, then you understand what a deal that is.
The cost includes your possessions, your dreams, your desires, your career, your identity, your citizenship on this earth, your ancestry, your family, and even your very life. The cost includes all of the things we are about to discuss, things Jesus explicitly required of ANYONE who would follow Him.
But you would lose this stuff anyway. Go on, try and hold onto it for eternity.
Give it up, though, and you get Jesus. Jesus here and now. Jesus for eternity. You are translated from a slave of sin destined to destruction to a son of the King over all creation destined to rule and reign with Him.
People don’t like giving up their stuff, however. They’d rather keep it. I understand, believe me.
This is why we count the cost.
We so highly value romantic emotionalism that it seems unloving to even think of the cost, or that there would be one. Plenty have begun following Jesus based on an emotional experience and fall easily. Commitments based on emotions are unwise because when it gets tough and difficult, emotions change. It ain’t fun no more and you walk … or change your theology or doctrine so you think you can have God and your life too … and usually sound really smart doing it.
This happens with any commitment. It will get difficult. You will want to quit at some point. It happens to the Olympic medalist. It happens to disciples.
In our modern society of convenience and short-sightedness, a gospel that tells people they can have Jesus without paying the cost is very popular and lucrative; and of course there is no need to count the cost with such a gospel. But it is no gospel at all. It is a lie.
And those of us who stick to the true gospel are ignored or called names like legalists or sadists or what have you. It’s okay. They called Jesus names, too, even said He was of the devil. What do we think will happen when we teach what He taught?
A couple things about counting the cost before we move on to more details:
First, it is okay to really take your time to count the cost. If you’re struggling with the cost of following God with all your heart, that’s a good thing. Keep struggling until you can make an honest decision about whether you’re willing to completely surrender and follow. Others who have done so should not look down on those that have not.
This doesn’t mean you put off the decision or the struggle. Embrace and and let it have its work.
Second, while counting the cost is the initial step, it is also a constant reality. You pick up your cross to carry it every day. And there will be moments where God calls you further than you are and seems to require even more and you have to count the cost again.
Please understand that there is a joy set before us, something pure and amazing and eternal as a reward for everything we lay down for Him. It is so very worth it.
Peace.