Week 2, Day 3
Reading for Today: Luke 15-16
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
At the end of Luke chapter 14, there is an important passage that has to do with counting the cost of being a disciple of Christ. Throughout time, people seem to make changes to the gospel message in an attempt to try and make it more appealing to the hearers. In the process, many have taken out essential elements such as repentance and baptism. We have to be diligent to teach the “whole counsel of God”, part of which is teaching the need to make sacrifice in our lives to be faithful servants.
The two examples used by Jesus in this chapter have to do with the building of a tower and a king who goes to war. In both cases, one has to “count the cost.” You cannot build a house without first knowing how much it is going to cost, and whether or not you can pay what is required. Imagine how one could be ridiculed because they had not planned properly! Some of you have probably heard me use this example before, but I will put it in here since it is so appropriate. I can remember a house that was on a road close to where we lived that was only a foundation with a makeshift roof built on top of it. It remained that way for years. The appearance, at least, was that someone had begun to build a home, and didn’t have the money to finish it. This house was a “talking point”, if not a source of ridicule, for many years.
The military example is certainly one that should be clear. Leaders have to examine their legitimate chances of winning a battle, and they take into consideration how many casualties that they expect to incur. If they think that they will lose too many men, or that they will lose the battle, they should not go into the battle. In Jesus’ example, we see the king sending a delegation to ask for terms of peace if he believes he cannot win the battle. He has, thus, counted the cost.
Why is this important to us? We must make a decision as to whether we are willing to pay the cost for being a disciple of Christ. And, there are always costs involved. Are we willing to give up whatever stands in the way for us being faithful? Is it money? Is it worldly power? Is it some sin that we are unwilling to get rid of from our lives? Every person has the right to know what the cost is, even before they make the commitment to be the disciple of Christ.
Unfortunately, I know that many teachers are hiding the cost of discipleship from their students. They know of sin in their lives, that they will have give up, but the teacher fails to show them these things. I have known of people living in fornication, or in adultery who have not been taught that they would have to leave those relationships to be a disciple of Chrst. That simply is not fair. One has the right to know what being a disciple means, and he has the right to know just how much it will cost him.
Having said all of that, we also should realize that any cost of discipleship is worth it! How can we think that there is something here and now that is of greater value than the home in heaven that awaits the faithful disciple of Christ? So, if you have to give up friends, or family, or money, or power, or a job, or any other thing, it is well worth it to have the reward of eternal life when this life is over. Even if we have to sacrifice health, or life, the sacrifice is worth it. Be willing to pay the price–whatever price is put on your discipleship!
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2 Comments »
Machella said :
January 21, 2009 at 3:44 pm
At the end of chapter 14, Jesus warns that when salt loses its flavor, it is thrown out. This makes me think about the warning He gave to the church of the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:14-22. A zealous christian gives good flavor to the world and is pleasing to Jesus, just like a hot or cold drink would taste good in His mouth. But, if we lose our flavor, or become “lukewarm” He will spit us out. We must constantly strive to be zealous and faithful. I believe this goes well with the previous passage about “counting the cost”, because I think it is much easier to become flavorless or lukewarm if we do not count the cost before becoming a christian.
Kris said :
January 21, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Excellent point Machella. You make an great connection between these two principles, and I am not sure I ever thought of it that way before. Understanding what you are getting into certainly makes it easier to continue on!