Jesus said true discipleship is actually a costly proposition
By Dean Collins
There will be moments when you have to decide whether you want to be a fan of Jesus or become his disciple. According to Jesus, there is a big difference and choosing requires careful consideration.
More than enthusiasm
The Pharisee who had Jesus over for dinner with his friends was left with things to think about after the stories Jesus told at the dinner table. When Jesus left the dinner party his growing fan base was eager for more of his words, his miracles, and his free fish dinners. But as they surrounded him, he didn’t play to the crowd. He offered shocking clarity. Yes, Jesus came to give life, full life, real, meaningful, even eternal life, but it wasn’t without cost. No, he didn’t require that you earn this life but he did want the crowds then, as well as his followers today, to consider that discipleship is more than simply getting caught up in enthusiasm.
Enthusiastic crowds can be exciting, but they can also create chaos and bring harm. Crowds can be enthusiastic about a lot of bad stuff as well. Jesus wasn’t looking for enthusiasm when he spoke. He wanted the crowds to understand that to follow him would require that their love be greater than their love for their families and anything else they valued.
I think we sometimes are lazy or forgetful when it comes to discipleship. Most of us are creatures of habit. We have our preferences and routines when it comes to food, work, exercise, and entertainment. Is it possible that our discipleship sometimes becomes just another routine? We read or write a devotional. We say a quick prayer. We watch or attend a church service. We eat with and entertain people who do and like what we do and like. And if we occasionally invite a new person to join our preferred people and activities, should Jesus’ words from Luke 14 be considered?
Looking for evidence
Does my life show any evidence that I love Jesus more than my family? Have we forgotten that he actually said it should? And what about our resources, our jobs, and our retirement plans? Does Jesus really require that we give thought to whether our choice to follow him might mean we take a minute or longer to assess our priorities?
I spent three hours last week with Justin Giboney of andcampaign.org. His book and organization challenge Christians to make sure their politics don’t become their gods. Giboney insists that Christ-followers must be loyal to Jesus and adhere to the authority of Scripture over any political party or politician. But he also challenges believers not to fear the public space. This requires truly counting the cost of their discipleship. I believe this means that to follow Jesus we must do exactly what he told the crowds; we must consider the cost.
Counting the cost
I believe it’s important to remember that as Jesus walked with the crowd, he himself had already considered the cost. Earlier in his Gospel account, Luke reminds us that Jesus knew the days were approaching when he would surrender to a cross, and he had “set his face to go to Jerusalem.“ He had considered the cost, yet his love compelled him to complete his mission.
Matthew’s account of the challenge Jesus gave regarding the cost of discipleship reminds us that only when we are willing to lose what we have or think we have in this life will we receive the abundance of what God has for us. There will be moments of discomfort in this life that will require courage. If we are willing to accept, even embrace, these moments, we will never regret our decisions. I suspect we will learn what joy really feels like and know what love is all about.
Your time with God’s Word
Luke 14:25-35; Matthew 10:37-39 ESV
Photo by KEEM IBARRA on Unsplash
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