Devotional Sharing, Submitted by Jeannie Lee, Gracepoint Berkeley
What’s tragic about not being able to finish the tower?
- What is tragic about not being able to finish the tower is that this man has put in much effort and time into starting to build this tower. He’s laid the foundation, he’s spent a lot of time and money, he’s started an endeavor that he is unable to finish b/c he didn’t plan well enough, he didn’t anticipate what it would take to fully finish that project, and now he’s left with nothing. Failed plans, no money, lost energy and effort, and a crushed spirit.
Every Christian is by definition a disciple of Christ (cf. Acts 11:26). Three times, Jesus says, “You cannot be my disciple.” What does this reveal about the nature of being a disciple of Jesus?
- It reveals that the terms of being a disciple are tough. It’s a narrow road. Jesus says, anyone who does not “give up everything” cannot be my disciple. That means there are those who think they are disciples but who might not be one. Being a disciple doesn’t mean showing up to everything and being a good trooper and trying harder to fit in more and more for God. Being a disciple is an issue of a surrendered life, to “give up everything,” including my time, talents, treasure, totality. And I need to evaluate whether or not I am denying myself, taking up my cross daily and giving up everything to follow Jesus or not.
What cost have I paid since following Christ?
- I don’t think I can say I have paid much since following Christ. Maybe a bit of disapproval from non-Christian friends and family, but the gain of eternal life far surpasses what little cost is has been.
What is the cost of not following Christ?
- Eternal regret, gnashing of teeth, a constant nagging feeling of what if I had given all…
What have I gained in Christ?
- In addition to eternal life, I have gained the freedom from the things I was enslaved to, forgiveness of sin and a washing away of the dirt in my heart and mind. And in addition to these things, meaningful work, purpose, hundreds of fellow like-minded brothers and sisters to walk this narrow road with.
Devotion Questions:
- What’s tragic about not being able to finish the tower?
- Jesus does not hide the cost of discipleship. Why does he tell the crowd to count the cost of following Him before they follow?
- Compare the salt that loses its saltiness and the fellow who began to build but was not able to finish in v.30. What warning does this provide for those who claim to be a disciple of Christ but have not counted the cost? What would such a person’s life result in?
- Every Christian is by definition a disciple of Christ (cf. Acts 11:26). Three times, Jesus says, “You cannot be my disciple.” What does this reveal about the nature of being a disciple of Jesus?
- Have I counted the cost of following Christ?
- What cost have I paid since following Christ?
- Is following Christ worth the cost?
- What is the cost of not following Christ?
- What have I gained in Christ?
Commentary:
v.33 The Essenes devoted all their property to the community; some radical Greek philosophers espoused the same kind of teaching. But the rest of early Judaism and, even more, Greco-Roman society at large rejected such fanaticism; Judaism stressed giving to charity but not divestiture of possessions. Jesus’ disciples did not become propertyless but shared all that they had (Acts 2:44–45; cf. comment on 12:12). Nevertheless, Jesus would sound like one of the radical teachers, because he claims that anyone who values possessions more than people—and so holds onto them rather than meeting known needs—is not being his disciple.[1]
vv.34-35 Jesus uses salt as a symbol of the Christian life. What, then, are its essential qualities? In Palestine it had three characteristic uses.
(i) Salt was used as a preservative. It is the earliest of all preservatives. The Greeks used to say that salt could put a new soul into dead things. Without salt a thing putrefied and went bad; with it its freshness was preserved. That means that true Christianity must act as a preservative against the corruption of the world. The individual Christian must be the conscience of his fellows; and the church the conscience of the nation. The Christian must be such that in his presence no doubtful language will be used, no questionable stories told, no dishonourable action suggested. He must be like a cleansing antiseptic in the circle in which he moves. The church must fearlessly speak against all evils and support all good causes. She must never hold her peace through fear or favour of men.
(ii) Salt was used as a flavouring. Food, without salt, can be revoltingly insipid. The Christian, then, must be the man who brings flavour into life. The Christianity which acts like a shadow of gloom and a wet blanket is no true Christianity. The Christian is the man who, by his courage, his hope, his cheerfulness and his kindness brings a new flavour into life.
(iii) Salt was used on the land. It was used to make it easier for all good things to grow. The Christian must be such that he makes it easier for people to be good and harder to be bad. We all know people in whose company there are certain things we would not and could not do; and equally we all know people in whose company we might well stoop to things which by ourselves we would not do. There are fine souls in whose company it is easier to be brave and cheerful and good. The Christian must carry with him a breath of heaven in which the fine things flourish and the evil things shrivel up.
That is the function of the Christian; if he fails in his function there is no good reason why he should exist at all; and we have already seen that in the economy of God uselessness invites disaster. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.[2]
[1]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament (Lk 14:33). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
[2]The Gospel of Luke. 2000, c1975 (W. Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow., Ed.). The Daily Study Bible series, Rev. ed. (Lk 15:1). Philadelphia: The Westminster Press.