Prosperity preachers teach that coming to Jesus will bring financial blessings, a life filled with ease and freedom from worry and hardship. Sunday after Sunday, their churches are packed with unsuspecting people who think that following Jesus will make their lives easier. Ultimately, they walk away disappointed because the Christianity they were promised is not the Christianity that they experience. But Jesus didn’t teach that Christianity would make our lives free from struggle. In fact, he said the opposite.
While there are many blessings that come with being a Christian, there are also important costs that come with following Christ. I don’t write this article to scare you away from the faith, but instead my hope is to remind you that Christianity is meant to make us more like Jesus, and in order to do so, Christianity can be costly. However, the benefits outweigh the costs and a life with Christ is the best gift we can ever receive.
If you are interested in Christianity, or you are already a believer struggling with with some of the “costs” of following Jesus, this article is for you.
The Rich Young Ruler
One day, a man went up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what can I do to gain eternal life?” From his question, it seems that he really wanted to follow Christ. Jesus responds and tells him to follow the commandments. I imagine that the man was filled with joy because he responded, “I already do these things.” Then Jesus looked at him lovingly and said, “But there’s one thing you lack. Sell your treasures and then follow me.” The man walked away from Jesus with sorrow – he didn’t want to give up his stuff.
Counting the Cost
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Luke 14:28-29
Like so 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.
If you want to start a project or work on an idea, wouldn’t you first consider how much of your time and resources it would take before beginning? Likewise, if we want to become disciples of Christ, we should be aware how much it will cost to follow him.
Related: What Does it Mean to Be A Daughter of God and Why Does it Matter?
The Cost of Following Jesus
Let’s look at Luke 14 and Matthew 16. There are some important things Jesus tells his disciples about the cost of following him.
Cost #1 Carrying Our Cross
“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
In order to be a disciple of Christ, one needs to carry his or her own cross. The cross represents the suffering that Jesus endured. As Christians, carrying our cross means being willing to endure our own hardship for the sake of Jesus. If we aren’t willing to carry our cross, then there’s no point in being a disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:27).
Cost #2: Loving Jesus More Than Anything Else
Jesus also says something in Luke 14 that’s a little difficult to hear:
“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.” Luke 14:26
He doesn’t mean to “hate” our loved ones in the way that we think of it today. In this context, “hate” is a semitic idiom that simply means to love less. What Jesus is saying is that in order to be a disciple, we should love him more than anything and anyone else.
Related: How to Endure In Suffering
Cost #3: Self-Denial
Finally, in Matthew 16:24, Jesus explains that following him also includes self-denial.This means that we need to be willing to lay down some things we deeply love and enjoy for the sake of following Christ. Just as Jesus followed the Father’s will and went to the cross, we should also follow God’s will and do what God desires of us. Sometimes this will come easily, and other times it may be more difficult. But following Jesus means persevering and doing God’s will whether it’s easy or difficult.
Related: Are Good Works Necessary for Salvation?
Christianity Doesn’t Promise An Easy Life
If you came to Christ expecting that Christianity would bring an easy life, then you are mistaken. Christianity doesn’t promise that everything will be perfect. It doesn’t promise that everyone will love us, or that things will always work out just as we hoped. Jesus’ disciples all had to endure hardship for the sake of the cross. We will too.
What Christianity Does Promise
But, I don’t want you to think that Christianity is all hardship and pain. It isn’t. It’s filled with so much joy and beauty. And, any hardship we endure is ultimately meant to lead us towards a beautiful future in the presence of God.
When we become Christians, we are freed from the power of sin. It can no longer weigh on us like a burden. Similarly, Christianity gives us access into the presence of God and unhindered fellowship with our Creator. As Christians, we also gain a relationship with Christ and a community of fellow believers. Last but certainly not least, Christianity grants us eternal life with God.
Christianity does not promise a perfect life free from struggles. Following Jesus will always come at a cost. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we are essentially signing up to go through some hardship and suffering. However, we’re also signing up for a wonderful relationship with God, fellowship with Christ and other believers, and eternity in heaven.
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