What every person thinking about becoming a disciple of Christ should know!
This sure sounds like just another catchy title designed to get your attention. But it is not. In fact, it is scriptural. You will find it in the Bible. Even more astonishing, Jesus is the one who taught it.
Count the cost before you build
Jesus teaches that anyone thinking about becoming his disciple should count the cost. Count the cost is what every person thinking about becoming his disciple should know.
Here is what Jesus said:
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25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a 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 out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:25-33/NRSV
We don’t here this teaching of Jesus emphasized often. Yet, it probably should be one of the first things we should discuss with someone talking with us about being a Christian.
why count the cost first
This teaching follows another story told by Jesus about a man who threw a party. When the hour for the party came, the man sent his servant out to all those invited to call them in.
Unfortunately everyone invited had excuses why they couldn’t come. They all had personal things to care of.
So the man sent the servant into the community to call anyone who would come, specifically people that most others would never invite to a party. These people came. They came until his house was full.
Then the man said, "Those who were originally invited will never taste of my banquet." (Luke 14:16-24)
The teaching is pretty clear. There is a cost of discipleship. Jesus expects something of his followers. Being a disciple is not a free ride.
There will be days when you will have to ask yourself, “Am I going to do what Christ calls me to do or am I going to do what I want to do?”
Jesus is calling. Will I answer with an excuse?
Jesus is straightforward. He tells us to count the cost. Make sure this is what you want to do. Understand what you are being called to as a disciple.
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