To Count The Cost Series

Series: The Parables of Christ

Topic: To Count The Cost

February 17, 2002

Luke 14:25-35

Introduction:

Ill-commercials for products

-build up products

-add bonus products/ features

-then "How much would you expect to pay?"

-finally "Just 3 easy payments of $$$"

-car/truck commercials

- 0 down

-low 1.9% APR

-only $$$ per month

Big Question: How much does it cost? For all I know I could be paying on it for the next 40 years.

No matter what we seek to own, whether this be possessions or relationships, we want to know how much it will cost us.

Before engaging in an in depth relationship, including marriage, we determine how much we are willing to sacrifice for what we will gain.

Before we join a group or organization, we count the cost

-often neglected in evangelism is to notify a pre-Christian of the cost. Too often we focus upon the guilt- people need salvation from sin, but how often do we notify about the cost. What people have to give up?

Jesus lays all the cards on the table up front. He wants us to know what we are getting ourselves into. How much does it cost?

Text: "Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, "If any one 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. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Luke 14:25-35

Jesus makes four important points about what having a relationship with God costs.

1. It Is The Most Expensive Commodity You Could Ever Buy

"If any one 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." vs 26

What’s the price on the tag? -Ill personal frugality in purchasing clothes and eating out.

-I don’t like to go into a place unaware of prices. I like to know what I’m in store for.

Jesus puts it all out front and simply states the fact. Having a relationship with God is the most expensive commodity you will ever find.

Two Illustrations of Cost (Matthew 13:44-46)

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." (RSV)

Some treasure! And what about that pearl?! The guy in each story sells everything just to own it.

Imagine going into a field and finding gold and diamond deposits worth $20 Million. You go immediately to your bank and withdraw your entire fortune- IRA, CD’s, savings, checking, stocks, bonds- all of it for the sake of buying this field.

It is the most expensive commodity you could ever buy

-governments can’t afford it, but you can. The Cost?

2. It Will Cost You Everything To Obtain It

Treasure hunter could not obtain field unless he was willing to sell all.

The merchant would not obtain the pearl of great value until he was willing to sell all.

"If any one 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." vs 26

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law; a man’s worst enemies will be the members of his own family. Whoever loves his father or mother more than me is not fit to be my disciple; whoever loves his son or daughter more than me is not fit to be my disciple. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow in my steps is not fit to be my disciple. Whoever tries to gain his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it." Matthew 10:34-39