Luke 14:25-35 The discipleship way

Luke 14:25-35 Tests of discipleship - counting the cost. In several different metaphors, Jesus explains that to follow Him will ultimately be all-consuming. Firstly, we must live in a manner in which He is more important than any family member. This is not, I think, saying actual hatred of them, because that would be inconsistent with the rest of the Bible. But I think He is saying that by comparison of our depth of love for Him, our relationship with family members will seem like hatred (may seem so to them, if we are too busy feeding the homeless to tend to their priorities).

          Secondly, we must carry our own cross - a metaphor for crucifixion even before He was crucified. It was well-known that the Romans made criminals carry their own crosses to the place where they were to be nailed or tied to them to die. Metaphorically, Jesus seems to be saying that we have to carry with us the instruments that God will use to make us die to self so that we can live to Him. What would that look like? We must voluntarily take up whatever God brings into our life to form us spiritually. It could be fasting. It could be giving. It could be service. Actually, God can use any form of discipline that He chooses (and He is very creative, as the universe displays) in order to strike directly at that thing in our life that we put first and foremost, if it is not Him.

          Thirdly, we should make rational plans for serving Him. A man who builds a house should have enough money to finish the job, or he will look foolish. A king should not go to war unless he has enough troops to win. If we are going to enter Jesus' kingdom, we should consider that to get to the goal, we will need to give up everything we own - worldly possessions and all that implies such as career aspirations, family, worldly security, dreams of fame - and we need to decide that up front. 

          Fourthly, we should recognize the consequence of falling short of the finish line. We are the salt of the earth, but salt that loses its saltiness is useless and therefore discarded (Matt 5:13). If we start out to serve Him, but do not follow through with complete commitment (as per Luke 14:33) then we are useless to Him.