COUNTING THE COST
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Great multitudes followed Jesus as He went about teaching the
word.
1. No doubt, the whole affair was a playful extravaganza to
many.
2. Some thought that He would become king and free them
from the Roman dominance.
3. Some were fascinated by His strange teaching.
4. Still others followed Him hoping to see some mighty deed.
B. It was to this crowd that Jesus said the words in Luke
14:26-27.
1. Crowding along behind Jesus did not make one a disciple.
2. Jesus used stern language to show the requirements for true
discipleship.
I. FIRST, CONSIDER THE HATRED JESUS DEMANDS.
A. What did Jesus mean when he said we must hate our fathers,
mothers, wives and children, brothers and sisters?
1. It is not to be taken literally because other passages teach
the opposite.
a. Far from hating their relatives, Jesus called on His
disciples to love even their enemies.
2. It does not mean that Christians are to love their relatives
with a diminished or reduced love.
a. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the
church. Eph. 5:25
b. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves, and this
includes all relatives, especially those of our own
immediate family. Titus 2:2-3
B. The words "hate his own life also" supply the key to
understanding what Jesus requires.
1. A disciple is to hate his relatives in the same sense he
hates himself.
2. He must hate whatever in himself is low and base, greedy
and selfish - anything that would drag him away from Christ.
3. In the same way, he is to hate his relatives.
a. He should love them as he loves himself, and he should
hate them as he hates himself.
b. If a choice has to be made between love of Christ and
love of relatives, true disciples must be ready to treat
their relatives as hated enemies.
C. John 12:25 - He who loves life (who selfishly seeks to please
himself) will loose it, but he who hates his life (who denies
himself and willingly takes up his cross and follows Christ)
will keep his life for eternal life.
1. In the movie "The Poseidon Adventure," the ocean liner S.S.
Poseidon is on the open sea when it hits a huge storm.
Lights go out, smoke pours into rooms and, amid all the
confusion, the ship flips over. Because of the air trapped
inside the ocean liner, it floats upside down. In the
confusion, the passengers can't figure out what's going on.
They scramble to get out, mostly by following the steps to
the top deck. The problem is, the top deck is now 100 feet
under water. In trying to get to the top of the ship, they
drown. The only survivors are the few who do what doesn't
make sense. They did the opposite of what everyone else was
doing and climbed up into the dark belly of the ship until
they reached the hull. Rescuers heard them banging and cut
them free. (From Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, No. 2)
2. There are a few good people who do what makes no sense.
They empty themselves in order to be full; admit they are
wrong so they can be declared right; die so they can live;
forsake in order to have; give so they can keep.
II. JESUS GAVE TWO ILLUSTRATIONS TO FURTHER EXPLAIN HIS REQUIREMENTS
FOR DISCIPLESHIP. Luke 14:28-33
A. The first is that of a man who wanted to build a tower.
1. The tower was most likely a vineyard tower as in
Matt.21:33.
a. Towers were built in vineyards so that the owner could
watch and protect the vineyard from being stripped at
harvest time.
2. Before one built a tower, he should calculate what it was
going to cost.
a. If he began to build and could not finish, he would
become a laughingstock to all who saw his unfinished
work.
B. The other illustration is of a king who contemplated war.
1. Before meeting the enemy, he should calculate the risks
involved.
2. Could he stand against twenty thousand with his ten
thousand?
3. Are his own soldiers well-trained and eager for battle?
4. If he could not withstand his enemy, he would be wise to
send a delegation and ask for conditions of peace.
C. Jesus' stern conditions of discipleship keep down superficial
enthusiasm.
1. Jesus was not like most recruiting officers.
a. A military officer withholds comments about the
dangers of being a soldier; otherwise, he would enlist
very few recruits.
2. Jesus did not want individuals to come after Him with false
illusions.
a. He did not promise "health and wealth" or "pie in the
sky" as the modern televangelists.
D. Jesus lays before all men the challenge of the difficult task
of following Him.
1. The expression "a few good men" comes from a time when
three military recruiters were given opportunity to address
high school seniors. Each recruiter, representing the Army,
Navy, and Marines, was given fifteen minutes to speak. The
Army and Navy recruiters got carried away, so when it came
time for the Marine to speak, he had just two minutes. He
walked to the podium and said, "the marines are looking for
a few good men. I doubt whether any of you in this room
could hack it in the Marines, but if there are a few good
men here, I want to see you in the dining hall when we are
dismissed." He then took his seat.
2. Later, when he arrived in the dining hall, he was greeted by
a large number of students who were interested in becoming
Marines.
3. Likewise, Jesus appeals to the heroic dimension in every
heart, and is looking for "a few good men."
III. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK OURSELVES.
A. Am I willing to deny myself?
1. Self-denial is the first condition of discipleship. Matt.
16:24
2. Jesus did not mean a temporary denial of self, or a
sacrifice of certain pleasures for a week or two, but He
meant for a lifetime of self-denial.
3. To deny self is to no longer live to please oneself.
a. Paul had crucified his passions and lusts. Gal. 2:20
b. This is precisely what all Christians are to do. Col.
3:5; Gal. 5:24; Rom. 6:6; 8:13
B. Am I willing to abide in Jesus' teachings?
1. One must have firm conviction that Jesus is Lord and King.
a. He was born to be king. Luke 1:31-33
b. He was made both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:36
2. True discipleship involves continuing in His words. John
8:31-32
a. Again, are you willing to abide in His teachings?
b. Will you faithfully attend every service, put His kingdom
first, keep yourself unspotted from the world? Luke
6:46
C. Will I zealously follow Him to the end?
1. There are many who are eager to follow Jesus as long as the
way is easy and pleasant.
2. However, when the going gets tough, and the road stretches
long, how many will give up?
3. Many Christians are like the tower builder. They start
building, but before long their tower lies dormant. Very
little building is being done.
Concl.
A. Jesus did not intend to discourage people to never begin.
1. He only wants them to carefully consider the cost.
B. People would be wise to consider the cost in other endeavors in
life.
1. If one says, "I want to be a medical doctor," he must
realize that it will take many hours of study and hard work.
2. If one says, "I want to compete in the Olympics," he must
realize that it will take much self-discipline and training.
3. If one says, "I want to be a Christian," he must see
beforehand the hard and painful struggle that awaits him,
and be ready to make whatever sacrifices are necessary.
a. Those who count the cost and pay the price are the
ones who will be rewarded.
b. The cost does not equal the reward that will be granted.
2 Cor. 4:16: Rom. 8:18