April, 2007
Series: What is Christianity #3
Being a Christian--What Would it Mean?
What Would it Cost?
Luke 14:25-33
INTRODUCTION: It is said that “the entrance fee to the Christian life is nothing at all, but the annual subscription is everything you have.”
In this scripture large crowds were following Jesus. It was the popular thing to do, but Jesus addressed the crowd by saying, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Wow! This hit them right between the eyes. He went on to say, “and anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
1. Jesus Takes Precedence: Jesus wanted the crowds to think about what was really involved in following him. What would it mean to be a disciple? What would be the cost for them? Many of the people in this crowd had followed Jesus simply for the benefits--the free bread and fish, the healings, the popularity; but Jesus wanted them to understand the true cost of discipleship over the long haul. To the people living in that culture to neglect social customs pertaining to family loyalties would probably have been interpreted as HATE. Today we think of hate as something different from what Jesus was trying to get across to them here.
The Greek word used here for hate is miseo and the way it is used in this scripture is that of preference of one thing over another. If, for example, it came to a choice of Jesus or something or someone else, what would the choice be? He is saying here that if it came to a choice, Jesus should come out number one and the others--even family would be in number 2 spot. A true disciple of Christ would disregard the claims of one person or thing to those of Jesus. So he is not saying here--”I want you to HATE your father, mother, etc. as we think of hate. What he wants to get through to the crowd and to us today is that to be a disciple of His takes PRECEDENCE over the claims of other persons and other things. Matthew 10:37 clarifies it by saying, “Anyone who loves his father and mother more than me is not worthy of me.
Another way to explain this is from the Message Bible. “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to LET GO OF father, mother, spouse, children…can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow me can’t be my disciple.”
Jesus wanted the crowd to think through their enthusiasm for Him. He encouraged those who were superficial to either make a deeper commitment or to turn back. Many of these people followed Christ as long as the benefits lasted, as long as it didn’t cost them any sacrifice; but once the pressure was on before the crucifixion, they drifted away. In this scripture He was speaking to their superficiality and their shallowness. And today He speaks to us as well. As you listen to people talking today, you can quickly hear their level of commitment. Many people have more important things to do than to follow Jesus. How many people allow their work, their families, their recreation, their money, all to take PRECEDENCE over Jesus. “If I don’t have anything better to do, I’ll come to church Sunday. If I don’t have to do something else, I’ll serve the Lord.”
What did Jesus mean when he told them that “anyone who does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple?”
Jesus’ audience was well aware of what it meant to carry one’s cross. When the Romans led a criminal to his execution site, he was forced to carry the cross on which he would die. This showed his submission to Rome and warned observers that they had better submit too. The judicial custom by which the condemned person carried his stake to the place of execution was applied by the Lord to those sufferings by which his faithful followers were to express their fellowship with Him. Matthew 10:38 says, “And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Would the people be willing to submit to His authority? Are we willing to submit to His authority?
Jesus is telling these people that discipleship requires a conscious advance commitment made with a realistic estimate of the ultimate personal cost.
ILLUSTRATION: When we were in Guatemala we were in the backseat of an old junky car. We were on our way to a birthday party. The driver of the car was talking to us about the Lord and driving very fast through the Guatemalan traffic. He turned around and looked at us and sings, “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.” I think this is an example of the conscious, deliberate decision that Jesus was talking about.
Can we not only make this conscious decision to acknowledge Him and identify ourselves with Him and on the other hand not set our desires and our will against the rights that He has to our lives?
A lot of times people will quickly say, “No one is going to tell me what to do and our rebellion is not just against other people but also against the Lord Himself.”
Jesus takes PRECEDENCE over everything else.
2. COUNTING THE COST: He gives us three parables for counting the cost--a builder estimates the cost to complete, a king going to battle assesses the strength of the army, and salt whether it has lost its savor.
Jesus used the illustration of a builder who counts the cost before building something so that he doesn’t run out of funds before the structure is completed. Jesus wanted the crowds to count the cost of being a disciple so that their Christian life would not end up half built and abandoned and a reproach to the kingdom of God.
ILLUSTRATION: A motel sitting there for years near Columbus was never finished. Finally it was torn down. For some reason it was never completed and ended up being a waste of money. Jesus wanted them to know that following Christ would not always be trouble free. It could involve a loss of social status, friendships, career, money and even family relationships. What does it mean for us today?
ILLUSTRATION: On the elevator, someone asked me, “Are you a good Baptist?” when I was not drinking with the crowd.
Have you looked at the costs of being a disciple of Jesus? Most of us probably haven’t counted the cost or thought about that much. George Barna said that people who are calling themselves “Christians” have not changed much at all, IF AT ALL, from the non-Christian. There should be a change for the better. There should be definite evidence in a person’s life that knowing the Lord has made a difference. What are some costs?
1. It Will Cost You Your Sins: Genuine repentance is vital initially and as the years go by. Being a disciple brings about a deliberate change of direction in a person’s life. If we hand over the keys of our life to the Lord and let him clear up the mess, then our being willing to LET HIM do it is a major part of the repentance process. Many people say, “OK, clean up the mess,” and as soon as it is cleaned up say, “Now I can handle it.”
Many people would like the benefits of a clean life where they are drug free, alcohol free, off of addictive behaviors, etc., out of jail and out of trouble, but they want to keep on sinning just like they have always done.
Ephesians 2:2 says, You once walked according to the course of this world…”
Colossians 3:7 says, “you used to walk in these [sinful] ways, in the life you once lived, BUT NOW you must rid yourself of all such things as these…” What would it mean to be a Christian? It would mean that you would be a different person. Being a disciple of Christ will cost you your sins. Are you willing to give up your sins?
2. Self-Centeredness: Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable. People back then responded in different ways. Caiaphas represents people who will not believe because they think it will cost them too much. They choose their own self-centeredness over the Lord--the power, prestige, pleasures. One man said, “let me go bury my father first.” It was possible that this man was not asking to go to his father’s funeral but to PUT OFF THE DECISION to follow Jesus until a later time--until my career is established, until I buy a house and have some financial security, until I get married, until I can travel, until I get my kids through college. The decision to follow Jesus should not be put off even though there are competing loyalties. Does our self-centeredness take precedence? There must be a change of power at the center. Love of family can be an excuse for not following the Lord. It can be self serving.
3. Independence: We belong to the family of God. Time has to be spent in finding our place in the body of Christ. We are not lone rangers. A Christian is a member of a body, sheep in a flock, a brick in a building. Time has to be spent developing new relationships with others and becoming knit together as in Ephesians 4:16. “…the whole body is fitly joined together.”
3. TAKING UP THE CROSS ONCE YOU HAVE COUNTED THE COST: To what extent have you counted the cost of being a disciple of the Lord? How do you feel about that? Does it seem overwhelming? You may say, “How can I live up to these requirements?” Jesus us gives us the answer in verse 27--taking up our cross. Luke 9:23 clarifies this a little more by inserting the word DAILY. Luke 9:23 says, “let him deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me.” That is the secret. We may be overwhelmed with the total picture of being a disciple, but we don’t have to be overwhelmed by our walk a step at a time--a day at a time. We can do that.
We all have DAILY choices to make that will turn our hearts more toward the Lord or turn our hearts AWAY from the Lord. These little choices are like a fork in the road. Which do you take?
ILLUSTRATION: A woman who was a very devout Christian for many years had a husband who was not a Christian. He liked to go to bars and accused her of not wanting to be with him. He objected to her going to church. She decided to start going to the bars with him. She made this choice at a little fork in the road. She hasn’t been back to church in four years. It was not a wise decision. Her husband is still out of church and so is she. Why are daily choices so important? They lead us on to the next step of our journey.
ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago I played the piano at church. We had a preacher who thought wearing jewelry was a sin. I wore a one strand pearl necklace to church. Well, I was told to take off the necklace or quit playing the piano. I didn’t see anything wrong with that necklace. So what do I do? My Mother said, “I wouldn’t take off the necklace.” But what decision should I make? Does Jesus take precedence over a pearl necklace? You might say, “Certainly He would,” but these are exactly the kinds of things that trip us up and cause us to lose out.
What do you do in these little decisions? How does it affect your walk with the Lord? The choices you have to make--what does it COST you to go God’s way rather than your way? Sometimes we say, “Well, it’s the principle of the thing. No one is going to tell ME what to do.”
CONCLUSION: Being a Christian. What would it mean? What would it cost? It means a lot of things. In summary:
1. Jesus takes precedence over people and things.
2. Counting the cost
a. sins
b. self-centeredness
c. taking up our cross daily
Today we have focused on the COSTS rather than the benefits of being a Christian. Many people think that the cost is too high and that it is too hard. But the way of the transgressor is hard (Proverbs 13:15).
Jesus said, “my Yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). He said count the cost, but He also said, “I have come that you might have life and that more ABUNDANTLY” (John 10:10).
Where do you stand today in your commitment as a Christian?
Are there things that stand between you and the Lord? Are things taking precedence over His claims on your life? Are you careless about taking up your cross daily?
Let us Pray:
