As I accumulate birthdays I am fond of telling people “getting older is not for wimps!” If we are privileged to reach advancing age it goes without saying that certain challenges become inevitable as youthful capability fades. No one promised us that life would get easier! I choose to accept the tradeoff of more birthdays for the joy of enjoying friends and family and fellowship.
Being a Jesus-follower is not for wimps either. There are demonstrable benefits to being a committed Christian, but the costs are not hidden and are spelled out “up front” as we enter the relationship with the eternal. If we think life will become easier by becoming a committed Christian we need to revisit what Jesus said on the subject.
He illustrated the cost of discipleship when a man offered to follow Him enthusiastically:
“But Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.’” (Matthew 8:20, NLT)
Following Christ may require giving up personal security and comfort. This verse reminds believers that discipleship is not a guarantee of an easy life. Rather, it is a call to trust God completely, even when obedience leads us into difficulty or uncertainty.
True discipleship requires placing Jesus above every relationship, possession, and priority. Jesus said:
“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” (Luke 14:33, NLT)
This does not necessarily mean selling all one’s possessions, but it does mean living with open hands—ready to surrender anything that competes with devotion to Christ. The rich young ruler’s story (Matthew 19:16–22) shows how attachment to wealth can keep someone from following Jesus wholeheartedly.
The cost of discipleship often includes rejection or persecution. Jesus told His followers:
“And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22, NLT)
This is a sobering reality: following Jesus may bring opposition from the world. Yet it is also a promise that perseverance will be rewarded with salvation. The early church understood this truth deeply, as many believers suffered imprisonment, loss of property, and even death for their faith.
Paradoxically, the cost of discipleship is also the pathway to true life. Jesus taught:
“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.” (Mark 8:35, NLT)
This verse reveals that surrender leads to freedom. When we lay down our agenda, we find the abundant life Christ promised (John 10:10). The cost is real, but the reward—eternal life and fellowship with God—is immeasurably greater.
The cost of Christian discipleship is high: it demands self-denial, sacrifice, and steadfastness. It may mean leaving comfort behind, enduring suffering, and prioritizing Christ above all else. Yet, as Jesus promised, those who give up their lives for His sake will find true life. The challenge for believers today is to count the cost, embrace the call, and trust that Christ is worth every sacrifice. As Paul wrote:
“Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8, NLT)
So, the cost of discipleship is great, but the reward—eternal fellowship with Christ—makes it the most worthwhile investment a person can ever make. Those who preach prosperity and freedom from hardship as the reward for following Jesus are obviously not reading the scripture they profess to revere. Jesus wanted his disciples, and us, to have their eyes wide open to the costs involved.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org