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