We have all counted the cost of various things whether it be items at a store, buying a car or house, getting married, having a baby, or numerous other things, but have you counted the cost for being a disciple of Christ? That's right. Have you counted the cost for following and serving Christ? You may have never been asked or even thought about it. If you truly are a Christian, you need to count the cost.
Luke 14:25-33
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold 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, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (KJV)
Jesus told the multitude of people following Him that if they wanted to be His disciple that they needed to count the cost. He said that compared for their love and devotion to Him, it would practically be as though they hated their own father and mother, brothers and sister, even their own wife and children. If you are to sit and examine yourself, can you truthful say that your love and devotion for Christ comes before that of even your closest and dearest of family? Remember that Jesus said if you don't forsake all that you have, which includes family, you cannot be His disciple.
When it comes to forsaking all that is truly what Jesus meant. Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler who had been obedient to the commandments from his youth? He asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all that he had, and distribute it to the poor and then come and follow him. Well, the young man went away sorrowful because he was very rich.
Luke 18:18-23
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. (KJV)
Are you like this rich young ruler? Do the things of this world mean more to you that Christ? Examine yourself and count the cost. The rich young ruler was a morally good man, yet the things of the world were a snare unto him so that he did follow Christ and receive eternal life. Do you make the same mistake.
The word of God gives us even more examples, like leaving the comforts of home being and finding no desirable place to lay your head; leaving sick family, even sickly near death behind; or even not going to bid farewell to your family before you venture on with Christ (just think of how this would upset your spouse!).
Luke 9:57-62
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Jesus once again made some pretty hard statements. Most of these people were probably stirred up by what Jesus taught and the miracles which were worked through Him. How many people are like them today? Look at all the revival meetings and people getting stirred up in their flesh. They are alot like these people Jesus talked with. Did they count the cost? No. They wanted to follow Jesus, yet their heart was far from Him. They had not died to self yet. If you have counted the cost you won't start looking back at your life (family, work, and other worldly things). Nothing will distract you from following Christ.
Do you recall the parable of the sower? There were four types of ground that the sower sowed his seed upon. The way side; the stony; the thorny; and the good. The only seed that produced was the good ground. Those whose hearts are like that of the way side are compared to the people who sit in church service after service, hearing the pastor from the pulpit, but the message goes in one ear and out the other.
Then there's those whose hearts are like the stony ground. They hear the message and receive it with great joy, but when hard times come on them because they are a Christians they decide to forsake Christ. Persecution is a way of life for those who follow Christ. If you are not being persecuted for Christ's sake, then something is wrong.
Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (KJV)
John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (KJV)
2 Timothy 3:12
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (KJV)
Then there's those whose hearts are like the thorny ground, who hear and receive the message, yet they love the things of the world more that Christ (like the rich young ruler), and whither away.
But those whose hearts are like the good ground are those who decide to forsake all and follow Christ and become fruitful for Him.
Mark 4:14-20
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (KJV)
Quite often after reading passages like this, I am reminded of 9-11 and all the people who flocked to the churches for comfort, strength, healing and security. Oh how they wanted Christ or so they thought. In the course of a few months things were back to normal. Most of these people who flocked to the church because of the events of 9-11 stopped going because they didn't need Jesus now. The hard time was over.
If we are to truly follow Christ, we need to deny ourselves as I have already pointed out. Jesus even referred to it as taking up our cross daily. We are follow Christ to the death if necessary. We are to die to selfish ambitions and desires. We are to die to ourselves if we are going to have life.
Luke 9:23-26
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. (KJV)
The Life Application Bible Commentary puts it this way: If following Jesus is most important, you may find yourself in unsafe, unhealthy and uncomfortable places. You will risk death, but you will not fear it because you know that Jesus will raise you to eternal life. Nothing material can compensate for the loss of eternal life. Jesus' disciples are not to use their lives on earth for their own pleasure, they should spend their lives serving God and people. Have you discovered the most fulfilling use of your life?
The Scriptures challenge us to examine ourselves whether we be in the faith. Have you counted the cost of following Jesus? If not, there's no better time than the present. Examine yourself and see whether you are in the faith, or if you are unfit for the kingdom of God.
2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (KJV)
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