“And He said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”
Luke 9:23
My brother-in-law, Dale, said something Sunday that I’ve been reflecting on ever since. He said, “Jesus can use me if I can count the cost of discipleship.” How many times do we strongly attest to wanting to be used by God for His glory? Most Christians would quickly confess to their desire to help others, spread the good news of Jesus, and work in the church. But how often do we deny an opportunity because of what it demands of us? If we determine what we’re willing to do for God based on our earthly priorities (i.e. money, school, work, relationships), then we’ve done the opposite of what Christ instructs us to do.
The passage from which Dale thought of the above statement was Luke 9:57-62. In these few verses, three different people were willing to follow Jesus, but they failed to count how much it would cost them. The first man said, “I will follow you wherever you go,” (v.57). Jesus, knowing his heart, tells the man that he doesn’t know what he’s signing up for because “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head,” (v.58). Following Jesus could very well mean giving up this world’s comforts. Faithful servitude to Jesus also means leaving things in the past. Answering one of the men, Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,” (v.62). Not only must we be ready to give up the people, places, and things that we once had, we also must keep our hearts from ever wanting to go back.
The cost of being a Christ-follower is often great, but the reward for those who persevere is even greater. In Matthew 19:27, Peter, a disciple and eventual martyr for Christ, asks Jesus, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Peter and the other disciples forsook everything to follow Jesus. They counted the cost before even knowing what they would get in return. In Christ’s reply to Peter, we learn what will be the reward for those who count the cost of following Jesus today: “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters, or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life,” (Mt. 19:29). Many Christians have to give up their home or family in the name of Jesus. Christians throughout history have had to give up their lives. If we’re expected to be willing to give up our very lives, then surely we should also be willing to sacrifice our time, money, food, and anything else we can use in service to God. Today and every day, we must take up our cross and count the cost. That is the only way Jesus can fully use us for His glory.