THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP | Northstar Church

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12.

People new to the faith can often conclude that Christianity is hard for some and easy for others. They are wrong. The Bible suggests that following Jesus is hard for some, and for others, it is even harder.

While there are many blessings that come with being a Christian, there are also important costs that come with following Christ. The benefits outweigh the costs and a life with Christ is the best gift we can ever receive. But following Jesus will mean facing difficulties. We will not face some of the difficulties people faced in the Bible, over the centuries and even our brothers and sisters around who face daily persecution. That doesn’t mean that following Jesus is easy for the rest of us.

In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul doesn’t mince words. If you want to follow Jesus and do the things He did, you are going to face pushback. It’s a scriptural guarantee—following Jesus is not easy. Mark 8:34 adds, “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” If you actually want to follow Jesus, He says that you need to die to yourself (take up your cross) and follow Him. The Scripture continues right after in Mark 8:35: “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

One day, a man went up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what can I do to gain eternal life?” (Luke 18:18) From his question, it seems that he really wanted to follow Christ. Jesus responds and tells him to follow the commandments. The man was probably pleased because he responded, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Then Jesus looked at him lovingly and said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor…” The man walked away from Jesus sorrowfully – he didn’t want to give up his stuff.

Like many people today, the young ruler failed to understand that following Christ comes with a cost. He didn’t consider that Jesus would ask him to give up his greatest possessions.

The Bible is clear: Following Jesus comes at a cost. One of the worst lies of modern Christianity is that following Jesus is easy. Following Jesus is not easy. It’s life-giving and so much more. But “easy” is not an applicable word.

But for anyone willing to pay that cost, they will find life. You will find real contentment within yourself when nothing is left except for Jesus. There, Jesus will prove that He is all you have ever needed.

Discussion Questions:

What are some of the challenges or sacrifices you anticipate making as you consider following Jesus more fully?
How does the concept of “counting the cost” relate to your own life and choices?
In what ways might your life or relationships be affected if you prioritize following Jesus over other priorities?