Luke 14:25-33 (NIV) “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:‘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. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.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.”Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.*In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.'” The Cost of Discipleship: A Call to Radical Commitment When Jesus said in verse 26 that anyone who does not “hate” their father, mother, wife, children, siblings—even their own life—cannot be His disciple, He was not commanding us to sinfully despise our loved ones. God is love (1 John 4:8) and calls us to honor our parents (Exodus 20:12). So what does Jesus mean? This “hatred” is not emotional hostility but a matter of priority. It means loving Jesus so deeply and supremely that even our closest earthly relationships pale in comparison. It’s about rejecting any loyalty that competes with obedience to Christ. “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”— Matthew 10:37 Rejecting Ungodly Demands for the Sake of Christ If your father tells you to visit witch doctors, or your mother urges you to sell your body for money, or your spouse pressures you into sin—must refuse. You must courageously say, “I am a Christian. I follow Jesus, and I cannot disobey Him.” “We must obey God rather than human beings!”— Acts 5:29 In such cases, loyalty to Christ must outweigh even family expectations. If your spouse insists on ungodly practices and refuses to live in peace, the Bible allows separation: “But if the unbelieving depart, let them depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”— 1 Corinthians 7:15 (KJV) A True Story of Compromise A man once shared that he and his fiancée had been walking faithfully in the Lord. But when it came time for marriage introductions, the man’s mother said, “If you do not abandon this salvation, I am no longer your mother and I will curse you.” Out of fear and misplaced love for his mother, he gave up his salvation and convinced his wife to do the same. The result? He fell into deep sin and worldliness—worse than before. Jesus is clear: such people are unfit for His Kingdom. He wasn’t joking when He said, “You cannot be my disciple unless you forsake everything” (Luke 14:33). Forsaking Everything Means Letting Go—From the Heart To forsake all doesn’t just mean physically giving things away; it means letting go from the heart. You may still own possessions, but they no longer own you. Whether you have them or not, it makes no difference. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”— Colossians 3:2 If You Were Rich… To forsake wealth means that even if you lose it all while following Jesus, you remain joyful and content. Your treasure is now in Christ, not in possessions. You don’t follow Jesus for material gain, or so He will protect your wealth. You follow Him because your heart is filled with His love—a love you can’t even explain. If You Were Poor… Forsaking poverty means not using Jesus as a way out of financial lack. Don’t follow Christ just because you want a car, status, or revenge against your enemies. Deny self first. Let Jesus be your portion. Even if you remain financially poor for years, but your relationship with Christ deepens, that’s what matters. “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”— Psalm 62:10 Just like Job said: “If I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained… then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.”— Job 31:25-28 (paraphrased) After Forsaking All, Be Ready for Rejection Jesus warned that following Him means being hated, rejected, misunderstood, and mocked. He didn’t sugarcoat it. So before you build this spiritual “tower,” count the cost! You might face: Years of loneliness Family rejection Long seasons of financial struggle Being called foolish or brainwashed Still, do not be discouraged. If you know you’re not ready for these sacrifices, then make peace now rather than begin and fail later. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower… will he not first sit down and estimate the cost?”— Luke 14:28 Jesus Came to Bring Division, Not Just Peace “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”— Luke 12:51-53 True discipleship divides households. Parents and children, in-laws, siblings—all may be split over your decision to follow Jesus. Have You Taken Up Your Cross? Ask yourself: Have I denied myself? Am I carrying my cross? Have I left everything for Jesus? Know this: such people are not forgotten. They are taken to deeper levels of intimacy with Christ and receive a great reward: “Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’Jesus said to them… ‘Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.’”— Matthew 19:27-30 May the Lord Bless You Richly. For prayer, counsel, questions, or to join our fellowship services, contact: +225693036618 / +225789001312 Also, get these teachings directly on your WhatsApp!Join our WhatsApp Channel here >> WHATSAPP