“Leave everything and follow me.” These words hit me like a thunderbolt as I sat in my corner office on the 32nd floor of a Manhattan skyscraper, staring at my resignation letter. The cost of following Jesus suddenly became more than just a biblical concept – it was now my reality. What started as a simple prayer that morning had turned into a profound wrestling match between my carefully crafted life plans and God’s unexpected call.
The cost of following Jesus isn’t marked in dollars and cents, but in the currency of our comfort, relationships, and cherished dreams. Whether you’re a curious seeker, a longtime believer, or someone trying to understand what authentic Christianity looks like, this journey will explore four transformative aspects of discipleship: the heart of true biblical followership, Jesus’s raw teachings about counting the cost, the real-world challenges we face today, and the surprising joy found in surrender. Each story and insight here comes from both ancient wisdom and modern-day struggles.
Let me be honest – I’m writing this not as someone who has it all figured out, but as a fellow traveler who’s still learning what it means to follow Jesus in a world that pulls us in a thousand different directions. Through personal stories, biblical insights, and practical wisdom, we’ll peel back the layers of comfortable Christianity to discover what Jesus really meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” What I’ve found might surprise you – the greatest costs often lead to the most unexpected treasures.
1. Understanding True Discipleship
I remember the day my pastor asked a question that shook our comfortable Sunday morning congregation: “If being a Christian became illegal tomorrow, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” The uncomfortable shuffling in the pews spoke volumes. This question cuts to the heart of what true discipleship means – it’s not about religious routines or cultural Christianity, but about a life radically transformed by following Jesus.
Jesus’s words in Luke 14:33 strike at the core of discipleship: “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” This isn’t a suggestion or a nice-to-have – it’s a fundamental requirement. Unlike the casual Instagram “following” we’re accustomed to today, following Jesus demands our entire lives, not just our Sunday mornings or social media profiles.
Think about the first disciples – Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Matthew 4:18-22 tells us they immediately left their nets, boats, and even their father to follow Jesus. They didn’t negotiate terms or request a trial period. Their response exemplifies true discipleship: immediate, complete, and costly. These weren’t just poor fishermen with nothing to lose; they were successful businessmen walking away from family enterprises and security.
But what does this look like in our world of mortgages, career ladders, and family responsibilities? True discipleship means allowing Jesus to be Lord over every aspect of our lives. It’s about asking “What would Jesus have me do?” in our business decisions, relationship choices, and daily activities. As Jesus taught in Matthew 16:24-25, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
This isn’t about earning God’s love – that’s already secured through Christ’s sacrifice. Instead, it’s about responding to that love with complete surrender. Like a marriage, where love leads to commitment and sacrifice, our love for Christ should naturally lead to a life of dedicated following.
2. Counting the Cost: What Jesus Actually Meant
The rich young ruler walked away sorrowful, his shoulders heavy with the weight of Jesus’s words. Mark 10:17-22 captures this poignant moment when enthusiasm for eternal life collided with the reality of what it actually costs. Jesus, looking at him with love, had pointed out the one thing he lacked – total surrender of what he valued most.
This narrative isn’t just a historical account; it’s a mirror reflecting our own struggles with surrender. Jesus wasn’t establishing a universal command against wealth, but rather exposing what holds supreme value in our hearts. For the rich young ruler, it was his wealth. For us, it might be our reputation, relationships, career aspirations, or comfort zones.
Jesus was remarkably transparent about the cost of following Him. In Luke 14:26-27, He states, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” These aren’t words you’ll find on many church welcome brochures, but they’re essential to understanding true discipleship.
The word “hate” here doesn’t mean literal hatred – it’s a Semitic expression meaning to love less by comparison. Jesus is talking about priorities. When I chose to leave my high-paying job to serve in ministry, my family thought I’d lost my mind. The cost wasn’t just financial; it was relational. Yet Jesus calls us to love Him so supremely that all other loves, even legitimate ones, appear as hatred in comparison.
Think of it like a wedding – when we say “I do,” we’re saying “I don’t” to all other potential partners. Following Jesus means He gets our ultimate allegiance, even when it conflicts with family expectations, cultural norms, or personal ambitions. This isn’t about reckless abandonment of responsibilities, but about a deliberate reordering of our loves and loyalties.
The parable Jesus tells in Luke 14:28-30 about the tower builder illustrates this perfectly: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” Jesus wants us to understand exactly what we’re signing up for. He’s not interested in impulse followers or fair-weather disciples. He wants us to know that following Him might cost us everything, but as countless disciples throughout history have discovered, He’s worth infinitely more than whatever we give up.
4. Modern-Day Challenges of Following Jesus
Last week, I sat across from Gloria, a young software engineer, as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I just don’t know how to be a Christian in Silicon Valley,” she confessed. “Every time I decline the ‘optional’ Sunday morning meetings or refuse to fudge numbers in our reports, I feel like I’m committing career suicide.” Her struggle epitomizes the modern-day challenges many followers of Jesus face – when faith collides with a world that increasingly views Christian beliefs as outdated or intolerant.
Jesus warned us in John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” This reality hits differently in our hyperconnected age. It’s not just physical persecution we face, but subtle pressures that can slowly erode our commitment to Christ.
Social media presents a unique battlefield. When I posted about praying for traditional marriage, I lost followers, speaking engagements, and even some friends. The pressure to conform to society’s evolving standards is intense. As Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” This transformation often means swimming against the cultural current.
Professional environments can be particularly challenging. Christians face decisions about ethical practices, office politics, and corporate policies that may conflict with biblical values. Daniel’s example in Babylon (Daniel 1:8) becomes increasingly relevant – he purposed in his heart not to defile himself, even when it could have cost him everything.
5. The Paradox of Gain Through Loss
“I’ve never felt more free since I lost everything.” These words came from my mentor, David, who had lost his business defending his Christian principles. His story perfectly illustrates Jesus’s paradoxical teaching in Mark 8:35: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
This divine paradox runs counter to everything our culture teaches us about success and fulfillment. We’re told to accumulate, achieve, and advance. Yet Jesus teaches that true gain often comes through loss. It’s like the process of pruning – cutting away what appears healthy to produce even more abundant life.
Think about the Apostle Paul’s journey. In Philippians 3:7-8, he writes, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Paul, a man who had it all – education, status, religious pedigree – discovered that losing everything for Christ was actually gaining everything.
This paradox plays out in countless ways today. When we choose integrity over advancement, generosity over accumulation, or service over status, we’re living out this principle. Each loss becomes a gateway to deeper relationship with Christ and greater spiritual abundance.
6. Practical Steps in Following Jesus Today
“But how do I actually do this?” It’s the question I hear most often after speaking about discipleship. While the principles are timeless, the application needs to be practical. Let me share what I’ve learned through years of stumbling, rising, and growing in following Jesus.
Start with Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This verse becomes our practical compass. Here’s how it plays out:
First, establish non-negotiable daily practices. For me, it’s the “sacred hour” – 5:30-6:30 AM, before emails and notifications start flooding in. This time for prayer and Bible study isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about building relationship. As Jesus modeled in Mark 1:35, finding solitary time with God is crucial: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Second, cultivate authentic Christian community. When I moved to a new city, finding a small group was my priority before finding a gym or favorite coffee shop. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us of the importance of meeting together and encouraging one another. In a world of digital connections, face-to-face fellowship becomes even more vital.
Finally, practice intentional obedience in small things. Jesus said in Luke 16:10, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” This might mean being honest about small expenses at work, speaking truth in love even in casual conversations, or choosing to serve others when no one is watching.
Create accountability structures. Share your journey with trusted believers who can both encourage and challenge you. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” This isn’t about creating guilt trips but about building supportive relationships that help us grow.
Remember, these practical steps aren’t about earning God’s favor but about positioning ourselves to experience more of His transforming presence in our daily lives.
Conclusion:
While the cost of following Jesus may seem difficult at first glance, the journey reveals an unexpected truth: what appears to be sacrifice becomes the gateway to unimaginable fulfillment. The price Jesus asks us to pay – our comfort, our plans, our self-centered ambitions – pales in comparison to the peace, purpose, and eternal perspective we gain. The question isn’t whether we can afford to follow Jesus; it’s whether we can afford not to. As we’ve explored throughout this article, true discipleship demands everything, but it offers even more in return. The invitation remains open: are you ready to count the cost and embrace the adventure of following Jesus wholeheartedly?
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