Marvin L. Weir
People have a better understanding of the physical realm than they do the spiritual realm. Man realizes that diligence and careful planning is needed to successfully complete whatever project he undertakes in this world. Most folks do not desire to become the laughing-stock of the community and an embarrassment to themselves. Thus, they recognize the necessity of “counting the cost” before attempting to complete a major project.
Christ did not hesitate to teach that discipleship also involved commitment and sacrifice. He said to the multitudes who were more interested in miracles than the truth: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it? Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:28 -30). Adam Clarke said of the above verses:
This parable represents the absurdity of those who undertook to be disciples of Christ, without considering what difficulties they were to meet with, and what strength they had to enable them to go through with the undertaking. He that will be a true disciple of Jesus Christ shall require no less than the mighty power of God to support him; as both hell and earth will unite to destroy him.
Coffman, in his commentary, stated:
As Henry said, “All that take upon them a profession of religion, undertake to build a tower.” The Saviour’s teaching here is that the endeavor should be attempted in full view of the enormous cost of it. Men must bid farewell to the dearest earthly ties, mortify the lusts of the flesh, set their affections on heavenly things, and subordinate all earthly prospects to the will of the Master.
A wise man will not want his life to end up in shame and confusion like those who refused the council of God and determined they would build the tower of Babel.
One who has decided to obey the gospel and live the Christian life needs to understand that Satan will readily supply many obstacles in the “straitened way” that lead to eternal life (Matt. 7:14). Many begin the Christian race without giving solemn consideration to the cost that is involved. It costs some more than others, but whatever the price, it must be gladly paid. Let us consider some of the “costs” involved in being a Christian.
One must give up all sin. If one has truly repented he has “turned from” all his sins. A child of God is not sinless, but he no longer is willing to practice sin as a way of life. Repentance is a prerequisite of salvation. The act of baptism has never made something sinful into something holy—and it never will!
Some folks want to become a Christian and continue to drink, gamble (yes, the lottery is gambling), live in adultery, curse, lie, dance and expose as much flesh as possible in public. Sin, whatever sin it may be, is not a good investment. It is mere hypocrisy to pretend to be a faithful child of God while partaking of the sins of this world.
One must surrender his will to Christ. Jesus stated it best when He prayed, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). The thing that set King David apart from others was that he desired to do the will of God (Acts 13:22). The apostle Paul knew that Christian living required self-denial, and so he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).
A Christian will love God with all his being (Matt. 22:37) and will seek first the kingdom of the Lord (Matt. 6:33). This requires honest self evaluation (1 Thess. 5:21), control of the tongue and body (1 Cor. 9:27), and abstinence from the lusts of the flesh (1 John 2:16).
One must be content to be separated from the world. The apostle John made it clear in saying, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
A Christian cannot maintain an “unequal yoke” with the world; righteousness and sin do not mix (2 Cor. 6:14). A faithful child of God will choose not to run with the world but will separate himself from those determined to live ungodly lives (2 Cor. 6:17).
One must resign himself to being opposed by the world. The world that hated Christ will also hate His followers (John 15:18). In fact, the Lord said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19).
Abel was the one who lost his life because his works were righteous—“by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Heb. 11:4). Noah, because of his great faith,“moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world” (Heb. 11:7). One can only imagine the opposition that Noah faced while preaching to a lost and unbelieving world!
Yes, it does indeed cost to be a Christian. But the cost of Christianity is nothing compared to the wages of sin (cf. Rom. 6:23). Faithful children of God are truly “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
Let the Christian never forget the words of the Savior who forthrightly said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
May we be willing to pay whatever price is necessary in order to never retreat from the sacred Word of God!
