COUNT THE COST (Part Two)

 

 

Have you counted up the cost of what it means to follow after Christ?  For most people, the answer would be unequivocally NO!  Most people underestimate what it will take to follow Jesus.  Luke 14:26-30>“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down firs and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish,’”    Now, that is costly.  Have you counted up the cost? 

 

Let’s look at the last step, which tends to be the costly to most people: 

 

5.  Follow—Matthew 4:19; 8:19-22

“…Follow Me…”; “Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’  Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’  But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’”

 

These words from Jesus seem a little harsh.  And most people would tend to struggle with His command to Follow Me.  I believe most people are content and stay where they are and settle for just believing—having Jesus as their Savior.  But we are also to make Him our Lord.  How do you do that???  SURRENDER ALL!!!

 

Matthew 19:21-22—“Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’  But the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.’”  Jesus spoke these words to the rich young ruler who desired to have eternal life.  Unfortunately, for the rich young ruler the cost was too high to follow after Christ.

If we are to obey Jesus’ words and follow Him, we must be willing to leave ALL behind.  This may include:

 

o       ungodly behaviors (fornication, homosexuality, adultery, etc.)

o       family relationships (manipulative, controlling relationships)

o       friendships (club/bar hopping, drug & alcohol habits)

o       career (casino dealer, pole dancer, etc.)

 

Are you willing?  Have you counted up the cost?  This can be too much for some.  You may have family and friends who tell you that it doesn’t take all that to be saved.  You don’t have to stop doing some of those things you enjoy.  You don’t have to spend all that time in church, praying and reading the Bible.  Are you trying to become a preacher or something?

 

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-26—“If anyone desire to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man exchange for his soul?”  Jesus is looking for followers who are willing to give up or surrender everything, all of our plans, selfish desires, friends, families and career and live our lives for His glory.  Galatians 2:20—“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  In other words, die to self and live for Christ.

Is this too costly for you?  Well, if you believe that it is, maybe you should consider the cost of living for self vs. living for Christ.  Galatians 5:19-21 tells us what the cost of living for self is, “What the sinful nature does is clear. It enjoys sexual sins, impure acts and wild living.  It worships statues of gods. It also worships evil powers. It is full of hatred and fighting. It is full of jealousy and fits of anger. It is interested only in getting ahead. It stirs up trouble. It separates people into their own little groups.  It wants what others have. It gets drunk and takes part in wild parties. It does many things of that kind. I warn you now as I did before. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom.”

I didn’t say you wouldn’t inherit the kingdom of God, HE said it.  Now, is it really worth it to do what you want instead of what God wants?  Count the cost!  Walk in the Spirit!  Begin to live your life for Christ, by yielding to His direction and then, Follow Him.