Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37)

If you’re going to build a house, wouldn’t you make sure you draw the plans, get the estimates, and then make sure you have enough money before you start any of the work? You don’t want to start the project only to find out that you don’t have enough money to finish it. It would be a waste and a picture of foolishness to have a half-built house.

If you’re going to go to war, wouldn’t you make sure you understood the strength of your army versus the strength of your opposing army? Wouldn’t you assess the viability of a decisive victory? If you don’t think you’re going to win, negotiate. You don’t want to march onto the battlefield only to find out that you’re severely outnumbered. It would be suicide to march into a battle you didn’t think you could win.

I remember in HS a friend and I took an inner tube and began swimming out in Lake Michigan. From time to time we’d jump down to make sure we could touch the bottom. My friend kept urging us to go our further, “let see how far we can go.” And I was foolish enough to go along. We finally got out pretty far and decided we should turn back. The problem was we didn’t really think about how we’d have to swim all the way back. We were having too much fun swimming out. So on the way back, we got really tired, and if we didn’t have that inner tube, I hate to say how that story would have ended. That’s the kind of foolishness Jesus is warning against.

This involves a careful cost analysis. Are you sure you will give Jesus your highest loyalty and commitment, even over your family? Are you sure you’re ready to go on a suicide mission?

To miscalculate, to be unable to finish the course, would be a total waste. In the case of war, it would be suicide. We’re to be very careful, very serious about the costs involves and we’re to be fully prepared to pay the cost.

Jesus is explicitly warning against those who would try to be a follower of Jesus in a casual, “take it as it goes” kind of way.

We’ll explore how we’re supposed to Biblically view our money later in the summer.

In this context, Jesus is saying, a Christian without commitment, a Christian who hasn’t counted the cost and is fully prepared to go the distance, a Christian who isn’t ready to give up everything, even his own life, is worthless. In fact, they’re worse than useless (35).

There’s no point in beginning something that can’t be completed, for if you can’t complete it, you come under judgment.

Conclusion: A Christian without commitment is useless

A Christian without commitment is about as good as a guitar without strings, a car without an engine, a cellphone without a network.

This is a Gospel of grace, you are completely accepted as you are. You are more loved than you can imagine.

This will cost you everything you have. You must surrender all your relationships, your possessions, even your own life. If not, you cannot be a follower of Jesus.

We’ve found something worth it, we’ve found something more precious

We’ve found something better.

This is high-stakes poker. This is not a side thing, a Sunday morning habit. This is not background.

You don’t take marriage lightly, nor parenting. These are huge, life-changing investments/decisions. Jesus destroys the idea of casual Christianity.

As mentioned, you cannot just have marriage as an appendix in your life. You cannot be a casual and convenience parent. Nor can you have Jesus as an appendix in your life or be a casual and convenience Christian.

You see someone worth spending your life for. Even more than the woman/man you marry or the children you raise, here is the person you give your life to. It’s about a person, a relationship.

Following Jesus means in the Bible, in the Gospel, in our experiences, we see this beautiful, glorious, exalted, gracious King, who is also the Lover of my soul! And we say, “Anything for my sweet Jesus!” There is a massive re-ordering of priorities, values, and life meaning. Again, not unlike marriage or parenting, someone else takes the center of our lives.

There are sacrifices to be made, costs to be paid, commitments to be lived out. However, that’s not the center of what it means to follow Christ. Christianity is not bad news: some penance that must be paid, some punishment to be endured so we can get to heaven.

No, Christianity is about gain, finding a treasure, a pearl of great price. It is finding someone to whom you give your life.

The thief comes to kill and destroy, to take away; Jesus has come to give life abundant.

For some of you, following Jesus has been a casual, convenience kind of thing.

Jesus, as it were, turns to us and says, If I’m not you’re number 1 priority, if you’re not willing to go on a suicide mission with me, if you’re not willing to declare bankruptcy for me, then you’re not worthy to be my follower.

He wants you to stop with the games, and he’s asking, Go all in or fold. What’s it going to be?

Do something that helps you deepen and express your commitment and submission to Christ, something that expresses, all I have, all I am belongs to you. It’s cheap to say it in words or in a song. Take it a step further and express it in some action.

For some of us, we revolve our lives around food. Consider fasting for one day.

For some of us, we revolve our lives around money. Consider giving a significant financial gift.

For some of us, we never have time for God. Consider setting aside half a day in slowness and solitude.

For some of us, we refuse to forgive, to reconcile. Consider humbly asking for forgiveness, for trying to reconcile.

Meditate on God’s promises

Listen to sermons like last week about how you are more loved than you can imagine.

Sing praise songs

Practice thanksgiving

Pray with a brother/sister in Christ

Share about Christ with others (expresses and deepens)