Who would begin to build a house without first figuring out how much it’s gonna cost? No one would do that. It’s the same with discipleship. Do you really want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? If so, what is the cost of discipleship?
Discipleship is a serious decision. Jesus tells us plainly what the cost of discipleship is in Luke 14:26-33: Hate your parents and children; Carry your own cross; Renounce all your possessions. This is serious stuff.
Now I’m counting on all the Bible commentaries to be right when they explain that this is hyperbole. But still, mature discipleship asks something of us. What is that, what is the cost? In short–everything. The cost of discipleship is to put God first ahead of everything else in our lives: family, work, aspirations, worries, self! In practical terms, what does that look like?
Pray first. Praying first puts God first. Pray before all events and activities and all of the time. Give first. Make giving the first category of expenses in your budget. Surrender your ego and, in utmost humility, accept that He gives us everything. Then in overwhelming gratitude for His gifts, give out of love and justice for our neighbors in need. Give generously and courageously. Give and trust that God will provide. This cost of trusting God comes under the “detachment” column. We must be detached from our possessions so that God can be first.
St. Oscar Romero challenges us with this, “A gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s’ skin—what gospel is that?” This Gospel passage in Luke does exactly that. Will you embrace the message and pay the cost to be a disciple of Jesus?
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