Count the Cost

There is a cost to being a disciple. Jesus makes that abundantly clear. The Jesus way is the way of suffering. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple...So anyone of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:28-33) There is no bait and switch with Jesus. Right up front he looks us in the eye and tells us to count the cost. Count the cost because following Him will cost you everything - your life, your family, your comfort, your possessions. Count the cost. Following Him will cost you your dreams, your passions, your desires, your will. Be sure to count the cost. When we count the cost before making a decision, we look at the decision from all sides. We look at the negatives and we look at the positives. We create a chart with a “pro” column and a “con” column. Counting the cost in following Jesus is not just focusing on what we lose, it is also looking at what we gain! Jesus enumerates the “con” column for us. This is a monumental list indeed, but what do we gain as a disciple of Jesus? What will go in the “pro” column? I want us to recall to mind a story in the Bible to help us understand what we have to gain. It is the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking what he must do for eternal life. “Sell all that you have and come and follow me,” was Jesus’ response. Count the cost. This young man turned and walked away sad after counting the cost. But what would have happened if he had turned back around and looked into the eyes of Jesus one more time? What would he have seen in Jesus if he had looked closely? Perhaps he would have seen the love that was there. Perhaps he would have seen His compassion. Perhaps this young man would have seen in Jesus the treasure that far outweighed his earthly possessions. What we gain is Christ. He and He alone sits in the “pro” column of our counting. And He is enough. God said to Abraham in Genesis 15, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” The psalmist says, “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5) Paul said in Philippians “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Compared to knowing Jesus Christ, all that is listed in our “con” column is rubbish! The more we look at Jesus as we look into the Word of God, the more we see Him; the more we understand His salvation, His grace, His mercy, His goodness. The more we experience sweet fellowship with Him through His Word, the more we will say with Paul, I’ve counted everything as loss compared the worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord! I encourage you to lift your eyes off the “con” list and put them on Jesus. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus for He truly is our very great reward and our inheritance. It is my earnest prayer for you that as your eyes are fixed on Him, you will come to know the surpassing worth of knowing Him!