Count The Cost
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." 33 "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." (Luke 14:25-27,33)
It's difficult to think that Jesus would instruct us to hate anyone, let alone our family but, at the end of Luke 14, Jesus seems to say just that. In order to come to terms with Jesus' words, we have to look at this passage in the context of what Jesus taught and how he lived. Just before these challenging words, Jesus had called into question customs of hierarchy and exclusion by both speaking against seeking honor for oneself and encouraging the inclusion of those from whom we seek to gain nothing. In fact Jesus spent his entire ministry prioritizing the marginalized and breaking customs that sought to empower a few while oppressing many. We also know that Jesus loved his mother so much that, even as he was dying, he ensured her welfare (John 19:26-27). It seems clear that, rather than desiring that we actually hate our loved ones or ourselves, Jesus is shocking us to attention. He wants us to see how completely we are to put God and God's call on our lives before anything and anyone else.
Then, Jesus continues by saying that no one can be his disciple who won't carry their own cross and give up everything they have. This is still emphasizing letting go, or putting to death, our own desires in order to do God's will. When we understand what it is that determines where we spend our time, how we spend our money, and what ways we use our abilities, then we will know what we really value and what actually possesses us.
Recognizing the unworthy things that possess us, and grasping the reality that those things can not sustain us, are the first steps to letting them go. Letting go of earthly, temporary things is the cost of gaining eternal treasure. Choosing to put God before loved ones may seem unreasonable and impossible until we remember that God seeks to hold, protect, guide and comfort them just as God does us - we can trust God with everyone we hold dear. Also, putting God before our cherished things and desires enables us to fully place our trust in the only One who can truly sustain us and will never forsake us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
