Cost Clarity
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
“I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. – Luke 12:4-9, NLT
“Jesus warns his hearers to evaluate all their values and priorities in view of the day of judgment: their words, their lives and their possessions…Luke reports Jesus’ warnings no less plainly than other writers: following Jesus is costly. The costs of not following however are eternal.” -Craig S. Keener
Jesus’ instruction to His disciples often feels counter-intuitive to our consumer saturated culture. He doesn’t bury the cost of followership in some fine print. He doesn’t sugar coat or try to lessen the pain involved. His instructions in Luke 12:1-12 are no exception. He begins by warning against any phoniness- because our true selves will be revealed. Then, He establishes a clear base line of persecution, and even death as normative for His followers. Further, He clarifies His expectation that even in the face of persecution and death, followers will choose standing for Jesus rather than denying Him. All of that feels so foreign to us. Not only because in our context we face no real threat of persecution or death for following Jesus but also because, we are used to a ‘nicer’ version of Christianity. One along the lines of ‘your best life now’ or some similar sounding idea. Studying the Gospels becomes a strong antidote for our cultural version of Christ following. Jesus leaves no doubt of the cost of following Him. He leaves no doubt of the cost of refusing to follow Him. Our trouble is not in the clarity He offers. Our trouble is in facing the hard facts and believing to our core that following Jesus means everything to us that it means to Him. Hardship has a way of sorting priorities for a person. Ask anyone in the midst of a crisis. What matters becomes clear. Here is where we are confronted with an uncomfortable reality. When crisis comes, does our followership of Jesus grow or shrink? Do we lean into following or do we focus our energy in a different direction? In a way, Jesus is presenting a crisis- the day of judgment. He wants everyone to carefully consider their choice to follow or not follow Him in light of that day. He isn’t afraid to bring clarity to the cost. For He also knows the cost of choosing not to follow. Our work is first to choose, follow Jesus or not follow Jesus. And then, we must count the cost, each day choosing authentic followership over phony followership.
Further questions for discussion/life application:
· How can you encourage yourself to be authentic in following Jesus? How can you encourage others?
· What way(s) are you faking your followership of Jesus? What sin(s) do you need to repent of? How will you avoid fakery in the future?
· When confronted with the true cost of discipleship, what scares you the most? What will help you overcome that fear?