Have you ever wanted to build a new house? Did you ever want a new car? After the decision was made to buy or build what was the next question? Most likely it was: what is the cost of building or buying? If the cost was too high then there might be other options were thought of or sought that might be available. The Bible talks about this same thing when considering discipleship. Luke 14:25-33 reads thusly, “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 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. And whosoever doeth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 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? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” The cost of discipleship must be considered and must be paid if heaven is to be ours when we end the days of our life here on this earth.
One of the first costs is that of family. Within this passage it states that one must “hate” father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and yea, even our own lives to be a disciple of Christ. The word “hate” is the one that trips up most folks! Looking at another passage that is parallel will help solve this problem. Matthew 10:37 states exactly what we are looking for, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” So the word “hate” is Luke 14:26 is the idea of “love less” in Matthew 10:37. The Bible dose not tell us to “hate” father, mother, wife, or children, but it does tell us to love less father, mother, wife, and children. God is to be first in our life. Yes, we are to take care of our families (1 Timothy 5:8). Yes, we are to honor our father and mother (Ephesians 6:2-3). But in all of this we still are to put God first in our life. Are we willing to pay the price?
Some are not willing to pay this price. Some will not obey the Gospel because if they did that would condemn their father or their mother. Their father and their mother were good godly people and were members of a denominational religious group. If this person obeyed or did not obeyed will not change the eternal destiny of their parents! That has been sealed, if they are dead. If they are not dead, then there is the opportunity to teach them this same idea of counting the cost. They just might be willing to pay the price!
We all will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive a reward according to the things that we have done in our bodies (2 Corinthians 5:10). What our parents did, we will not be judged by that. What our children have done will not effect our eternal destiny! It is what we have done. If we know the truth and do not obey the truth, then the wrath of God will be upon our own heads. Some are not willing to pay the price for that mansion in heaven.
Some are not willing to pay the price of being a disciple of Christ. There are many costs to being a disciple of Christ. One cost is that of time. It does take time to be a disciple of Christ. It takes time to worship. It takes time to study the Bible. It takes time to “go into all the world.” It takes time to visit the “fatherless and the widows in their afflictions” and many are not willing to take the time to do these very things. Out of a one hundred and sixty eight hour week many are not willing to take three hours of their time to worship God publicly each week. Out of this same one hundred sixty eight hour week many are not willing to take time to teach others what they must do to be saved. Oh, but that is what we pay the preacher to do! Think about that statement for a minute. If you are paying the preacher to do all of your Christian work are you paying him to go to heaven for you? One might respond, “oh, no, that is my job! I want to go to heaven but I want someone else to do all the work for me to go. You see I am paying the price for someone else to do all my work, but I want the rewards for them doing the work.” That will not work in any situation today. We can not pay someone for doing our work and then we reap the rewards of their work. We must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive the things that we have done in our own bodies (2 Corinthians 5:10)!
Some are not willing to pay the price for being a disciple of Christ. Remember what God has given to us. He has given His Only Begotten Son for us to have salvation. Christ has given His Own Life for us to have salvation. What are we willing to give to have this salvation? It is free to all who want it, but it is very expensive! When we consider all the apostle and many of the Christians of the first century and the price that they paid to worship and serve God, are we willing to give the same as they had to give? Many sold their possession to give to the poor who were in need. Many had the possessions take by force because they were living the Christian life. Many were killed because they were not willing to deny Christ before any man. Oh, the cost that was paid by others, and yet what are we willing to pay to be a disciple of Christ? Would we be willing to give our friends up for being a disciple? Would we be willing to give up our popularity to be a Christian? What is the cost and are we willing to pay the price?
Love, Keith
