In our last lesson we talked about the value that two men in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13 place on the kingdom of heaven.
- We asked, have you ever thought about the direct connection between how much time and effort you put into something and its value?
- Please turn to Matthew chapter 6 and read along with me beginning at verse 20. . .
- “20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:20-21)
- Easy to read, not so easy to execute—unless the value one placed on eternal life is greater than all else. Greater than life itself.
- In this second part I would like to consider a few examples of Bible characters that placed God, knowing God, having the hope of eternal life with Him—as a greater value than all they possessed.
- There were many who were turned away from following the Lord because of the value they placed on things, on friendships, on family and on their comforts.
Consider three who weren’t willing to pay the cost of being a disciple.
Cost of Discipleship Too High – Matt. 8:18-22, 19:22
- (1) (vs.18-20), “18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
- (2) (vs.21-22) “Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.””
- Many people rejected discipleship because of the cost was more than they were willing to pay.
- (3) Like the rich young ruler we studied in the first lesson—who also “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Matt. 19:22)
- All these are exact opposites of the men we studied in Matthew 13 who counted the kingdom of heaven worth more than all they possessed.
- Good news is that there are enough examples of men and women willing to pay whatever the cost to gain eternal life—that by them we are encouraged and strengthened. . .
Then in this lesson I like to focus more on examples of people willing to pay any price, people who thought nothing of giving all they possessed to have eternal life—to have Jesus as Lord.
Cost of Discipleship Is Worth It All? We’ll begin with Paul who was willing to pay all…