The week is parable number 28, The cost of discipleship which is found in Luke 14:28 – 33. However, before going into the verses of this parable, I want to discuss the 3 verses before, 25 – 27. These verses taken out of context can lead to misunderstanding for what Jesus is saying.
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.
Jesus is not actually telling his listeners to hate people, especially those who are the closest to you. In our modern-day understanding of the word hate, the opposite must be love. In the context of Jesus’ parable, hate has the meaning of less love, not the absence of love. Those who would be Jesus’ disciples must love their family less than they love Jesus, complete dedication.
Jesus understood that there would be conflicts between what he wanted done and what the family wanted to be done. He also draws a similar conflict between personal self-interest and his interests. Jesus is using as radical as possible language in order to get us to hear what he said and to think it through. When conflict arises between personal desires or family desires and Jesus’ mission, the disciple has no problem knowing what to do. Jesus’ mission is to always take precedence, no matter how serious the need of family. Nothing can be an excuse to refuse to do what our Lord has called us to do.
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.
Discipleship is not a hasty decision. You become a disciple only after you have carefully analyzed the changes it will bring in your life. It is like starting a building project. You must budget for it and see that you can finish it. No one wants a half-finished tower. If you have what it takes, go for it! Otherwise, do not subject yourself to the disappointment of starting the discipleship journey and having to turn back when you are only halfway there. People will laugh and ridicule you. Those whom you thought you could leave behind, you now return to, only to find they have rejected and made fun of you. Count the cost! Be ready to pay the cost!
In the parable, the project does not get finished and the people who see it in its half-finished state ridicule the builder. Could that happen today? Perhaps. But what else? The town might consider it a hazard and require the hole to be filled in. Or something else. What else could happen?
What’s the message here? Point is the you have to look ahead to see the consequences of your visions and plans. Will your Christian life be only half built and then abandoned because you didn’t consider the cost of commitment to Jesus? What are these costs? Maybe you lose social status or wealth. Maybe you have to give up control over your time, your money, or your career.
You may actually be hated, separated from your family, or, in an extreme case, put to death. Following Christ does not mean a trouble-free life of peace and joy. You must carefully consider the cost of becoming a disciple of Christ so you know what you’re getting into and won’t be tempted later to turn back.
Jesus is saying, if you don’t have the wherewithal or willingness to see it through, don’t even attempt the journey. Discipleship is a decision that demands the utmost seriousness and commitment. Be very, very sure you want to follow Jesus as his disciple.
Jesus is saying, consider ahead of time whether or not you are willing to become his follower. It will take everything you have and more. Discipleship will figure in every future decision of your life. The will of God will be first in your priority from now on. If you don’t have the willingness to give up everything to totally follow Jesus, then don’t begin. Don’t move toward a battle that you will surely lose. Figure out your resources and what you are willing to commit ahead of time. If you don’t have it, don’t commit your forces. Without enough strength they’ll be chewed up, destroyed. Halfway measures are not adequate. It must be all or nothing.
If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Have we so conformed our ways and words to the world around us that others cannot see Christ in us? Would others be surprised to find out that you are a Christian?