Growing Deeper Through Discipleship Series

c. But suppose a wealthy businessman heard of my desire and offered to pay for the entire expedition.

d. He would buy all the expensive clothing and gear; he would pay for my transportation, the guides, and the training.

e. Monetarily, it would be totally free for me.

f. But if I accept his free offer, I have just committed myself to months or years of difficult training and arduous effort.

g. It could even cost me my very life, because many good climbers die trying to climb Mount Everest.

5. Do you see how it is a free gift and yet it is very costly? (Source: The Cost of Discipleship, www.fcfonline.org/80199.htm, Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 1999, All Rights Reserved).

K. Let’s move on to verses 28-33. Here we see that Jesus gave two illustrations: 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

1. In these two illustrations, Jesus is expressing one simple but pertinent point.

a. His point is that just like it is prudent to consider the cost involved in building a tower or going to war before jumping in with both feet, so it is prudent and necessary to take in to account the cost and commitment necessary to follow Jesus.

b. Jesus doesn’t want people to make a commitment to him without completely understanding what is involved in this decision.

c. Jesus does not want a half-hearted, blind commitment that expects only easy paths and blessings, but doesn’t understand the costs and challenges.

2. Several years back, there was a commercial on TV that showed a man sitting in the chair at a tattoo parlor expressing his love to Donna by getting her name tattooed on his arm.

a. Halfway through the procedure he asked how much it will cost, $50.00 was the total.

b. The man pulled out his cash, and said, “But, I only have $41.”

c. The next seen showed the couple outside the tattoo parlor with Donna storming off, and with her boyfriend yelling after her, “I’ll get it fixed.”

d. The camera then zoomed onto the tattoo which read, “I love Don”

3. That commercial illustrates the foolishness of considering the cost of something so irrevocable halfway through.

a. A person should consider the cost prior to making the commitment.

b. Jesus wants us ask ourselves, “Am I in this for the long haul?”

c. Jesus asks us, “Are you willing to follow me no matter what happens or what you’re required to give up?”