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I’ve been wrestling with a phrase Jesus uses in Scripture: “count the cost.” Here, Jesus gave the crowd a bold command:
“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.” – Luke 14:26
And it doesn’t stop there.
“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?” – Luke 14:27-28
Count the cost.
What does it mean to count the cost?
When I read of the early church, where Christians were persecuted for their faith, I see the cost being counted. Or fast-forward today to North Korea, ranked the most difficult place to live as a Christian - for the 11th straight year. There, one labor camp alone holds more than 6,000 Christians against their will. Or the life of Asia Bibi of Pakistan, a woman who has been imprisoned for four years (and counting), for refusing to renounce her faith.
As an American Christian, I have no comprehension of this type of cost. You see, I haven’t had a lot to risk most of my life in following Christ. I’ve grown up in a culture where it’s pretty “vanilla” to call myself a Christian. Where 4 out of 5 Americans say they are too. Where we fill our wallets with dollar bills imprinted with “In God we trust,” and then use His name in vain the next breath.
Are we really counting the cost of following Christ?
I admit, for much of my life, I have not. I have loved Jesus – yes. And I have done many of the things “good” Christians are supposed to do: gone to church faithfully, joined Bible studies, and served on teams and ministries. And these are all great outflows of being a follower of Christ. But Scripture says if I truly love the Lord, I will obey Him (John 14:15). Not just the times when it’s convenient or comfortable. Not just on my terms. But to obey. Period. To obey even when it’s hard. When it’s uncomfortable. And when it costs me.
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 16:25
The truth is, following the Lord should cost us. Counting the cost means denying myself, my interests, my comforts, my [fill in the blank].
The gospel calls us to abandon ourselves. To lose our lives. To let go of the very things we hold onto so tightly. Perhaps financial security, expectations of living the American Dream, or striving for the approval of others. For many of our brothers and sisters around the world, following Christ is much more than praying a prayer. It means being disowned, rejected and possibly put to death.
As Americans, we are richly blessed to have the freedom to openly proclaim Christ as our Lord and Savior. But when we look back at when we became a follower of Christ, did we truly count the cost of being His disciple?
And more importantly, are we counting the cost today?