Does simply saying something mean you are that thing?
I am a policeman. Does that make me a policeman?
I am an expert in physics. Does that make me an expert in physics?
No, it does not mean I am a policeman or an expert in physics.
To be policeman I would need to be trained.
To be an expert in physics I would need to understand physics, demonstrate my knowledge by way of exams etc.
In life if we decide we are going to do something there are usually things we are going to need to do or give up.
If I say I want to be grade 8 flutist I am going to have to give up time to learn, to practice.
But here is a question for you.
What does it cost to be a disciple of Jesus?
Perhaps we could rephrase the question:
What does it take to be a follower of Jesus?
Is it enough to just say you are a follower of Jesus?
If we from Luke 14:25-33, Jesus gives us three things, three principles so to speak around the cost of following of being a disciple.
Luke 14:25-33
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he 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, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Now before we address the 3 principles, three behaviours of what it means to be a disciple I want to be clear, you cannot earn your way into heaven, salvation, eternal life is a free gift from God.
With the above in mind let us look at what Jesus said about counting the cost of following Him.
1.
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple
On the face of it this seems harsh. The word hate is used. The word hate today is seen as negative, harsh, when we hate something, we dislike it, we don’t want anything to do with it. But this is not what Jesus is saying here.
Jesus often speaks in hyperbole; He uses extreme to really emphasis a point. Alongside this these verses are written using idioms, jargon, phrasing of the day. Jesus is not telling us to hate our family rather that our love for them is second to our love for Him. Our love for Him must be first.
This can be challenging, but out of a deep love for Jesus, our love for our family, our relationships will flourish in far better ways.
This shows in our lives when we put what our family or our friends say before Jesus. When their opinion matters more than Jesus.
2.
27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Jesus is using a well-known image here. In the time of Jesus if someone was seen carrying a cross it meant they were on their way to be crucified. They were going to die.
And we are being called to die. To die to self.
I want to us to note that Luke records Jesus saying their cross why is this important, because our cross is individual.
Being a follower of Jesus means putting Him and others before ourselves.
Matthew 22:37-39
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
One of societies biggest problems it is emphasis on self. On looking out for number one, on saying it is OK to put yourself first, whatever the cost. To be insular rather than looking beyond ourselves.
How does this show up in our lives, not being prepared to sacrifice our time to help others, to sacrifice our creature comforts (I not even saying essentials) to help others.
3.
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Again, this can see extreme. But Jesus is trying to emphasis that we must be prepared to sacrifice for others.
I like to think of this in the following way:
We need to hold things lightly; we need to accept that everything we have comes from God.
Holding things lightly doesn’t mean we can’t have things, but when we put things before God, we have the wrong priorities.
Can I be brutally honest and say where this shows up in our lives most clearly. It shows up in our finances. What or who do we prioritise with our finances.
Let me give you an example from everyday life.
Many years ago, I was a CAP Centre Debt Advisor. Basically, CAP is a great Christian charity that provides free debt advice and support to people to get out of debt. I was asked to visit a family who were struggling, there were all kinds of agencies involved, they were behind with loads of bills, accessing the local foodbank. CAP could really help them, that was until I found out what they put first.
You see they said the only thing that was non-negotiable for them was there annual £4,000 holiday, they paid that first then everything else could be sorted after that. There priority was a holiday over, food, over a home.
What are your financial priorities, does giving back to God feature as a priority or an afterthought?
Conclusion
Jesus wants us to know what He requires of someone who wants to be a disciple.
A disciple isn’t someone who just says they are. In the verses we have looked at today we see what Jesus expects of a disciple.
Do we get it right all the time? No.
Who you put first/what you put first in your life will be evident in your life.
Saying you are a Christian doesn’t make you a Christian.
Jesus first makes you a disciple.
