We love a good deal.
We wait for sales. Browse garage sales. Scroll online for discounts. From the chaos of Black Friday to after-Christmas markdowns and tax-free weekends, we’re wired to get the most for the least.
That’s the bargain-hunter mindset.
Unfortunately, that same mentality sometimes surfaces in spiritual matters. Some folks want to receive as much as they can while giving as little as they can get by with. But God is not in the business of offering discounts on discipleship.
Salvation is free to us—but it was infinitely costly to Him. It required the greatest sacrifice ever made: Jesus’ death on the cross. In turn, He calls for our commitment, consecration, and sacrifice. In a shocking and striking passage, Jesus speaks to the cost of discipleship:
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Lk. 14:26–27).
These words sound startling. Hate your parents? Your spouse? Your family? That doesn’t sound like Jesus.
But in the language of His day, strong contrasts were often used to make a point. Jesus is not calling for hostility or animosity toward others. That would contradict the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39) and the many New Testament teachings about love within the family.
Rather, Jesus is demanding supreme loyalty. Our love for Him must be so deep, so strong, that by comparison every other relationship—even the closest family ties—pales in significance. Even our own life must come second.
The context makes this even clearer. As Jesus left the Pharisees’ house, great crowds followed Him. But He was not impressed by their numbers. Many likely followed out of curiosity. Some because He fed the hungry. Others are hoping to see a miracle. Still others longed for a political Messiah who would overthrow Rome.
Jesus was never interested in the size of the crowd, but in the depth of commitment.
Discipleship, He makes clear, is not for the faint of heart. Not for the casual Christian. Not for the spiritual bargain hunter. There is a price to be paid.
The word “disciple” is the most common Bible term for a follower of Christ, used over 270 times in the Gospels and Acts. It describes a learner—a student—one who is being shaped to become like the Master. And Jesus says that disciples must bear their cross. Not a self-inflicted burden of our own choosing—but the cross that comes with commitment. It means daily identification with Christ in surrender, sacrifice, and obedience to God’s will. It means death to self—our plans, our ambitions, our desires—and a willingness to follow Him wherever He leads.
To further illustrate the cost of discipleship, Jesus tells two brief stories: one about a man building a tower, and another about a king going to war. In both cases, the message is clear—count the cost before you begin. Don’t start what you’re not willing to finish. Don’t make a commitment you’re not prepared to keep. Discipleship is not a half-hearted endeavor. It is not a convenient add-on to an already self-directed life. It is a complete reordering of priorities.
Christ is not interested in half-hearted, self-seeking, bargain-hunting followers who are unwilling to pay the full price. He calls for full surrender. Total allegiance. Complete devotion.
So the real question is not, “What will it cost me?” But rather, “Is He worth it?”
What about you?
Will you be His disciple?
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 