Luke 14:25-35: a reflection

25Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, 26“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. 27Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple. 28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? 29Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation and isn’t able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, 30saying, ‘This man began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks for conditions of peace. 33So therefore, whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple. 34“Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

As great crowds follow him, Jesus turns and speaks with sobering honesty about what following him truly costs. He speaks of loving him above even the closest family, of bearing one's own cross, of renouncing all that one has. And he gives two illustrations about counting the cost: a man building a tower first sits down to reckon whether he can finish it; a king going to war first considers whether he can win. So, Jesus says, whoever does not renounce all he has cannot be his disciple. Following him is not a light thing; it costs, and we are to count that cost soberly.

Notice Jesus' call to count the cost of following him. He does not minimize the cost, drawing the crowds with easy promises; he tells them plainly that following him costs everything, and urges them to count that cost, as a builder counts whether he can finish, as a king counts whether he can win. Following Christ is not a casual undertaking, entered lightly; it is a costly commitment, demanding all, and to be entered with sober reckoning of what it will cost. Jesus wants followers who have counted the cost, not those who follow lightly and turn back when it proves hard.

That call to count the cost is worth taking to heart, for we can be tempted to follow Christ lightly, without reckoning what it costs. We can be drawn to follow Christ for the benefits, without counting the cost of the commitment, and then falter when following him proves costly, like the builder who could not finish; but Jesus calls us to count the cost soberly. Do not follow Christ lightly, without reckoning what it will cost; count the cost soberly, as Jesus urges, knowing that following him demands all. Following Christ costs everything, and is to be entered with clear-eyed reckoning of that cost, rather than lightly; count the cost, as the builder and the king counted theirs, and follow Christ with a commitment that has reckoned what it will cost, rather than one that follows lightly and falters when the cost appears.

Lord Jesus, as great crowds follow you, you turn and speak with sobering honesty about what following you truly costs. You speak of loving you above even the closest family, of bearing one's own cross, of renouncing all that one has. And you give two illustrations about counting the cost: a man building a tower first reckons whether he can finish it; a king going to war first considers whether he can win. So, you say, whoever does not renounce all he has cannot be your disciple. Following you is not a light thing; it costs, and we are to count that cost soberly. Show me your call to count the cost of following you. You do not minimize the cost, drawing the crowds with easy promises; you tell them plainly that following you costs everything, and urge them to count that cost. Following you is not a casual undertaking; it is a costly commitment, to be entered with sober reckoning. You want followers who have counted the cost, not those who follow lightly and turn back when it proves hard. Take that call to my heart, for I can be tempted to follow you lightly, without reckoning what it costs. I can be drawn to follow you for the benefits, without counting the cost, and then falter when following you proves costly; but you call me to count the cost soberly. Keep me from following you lightly, without reckoning what it will cost; help me count the cost soberly, Lord, knowing that following you demands all. Help me follow you with a commitment that has reckoned what it will cost, rather than one that follows lightly and falters when the cost appears.