Conversations about money effectively reveal the immaturity of children. One minute they ask if you can buy a car with a “million-trillion dollars” and the next confidently assert that one hundred dollars will buy a house. Children have to be taught both, the nominal value of a dollar (100 cents), and the real value of that dollar (i.e., it’s purchasing power). They must be familiarized with bank accounts and the dangers of credit cards. Ideally a child learns to practice simple budgeting techniques. The hope is that the effort invested into a child’s early financial education will pay dividends in their lifelong spending habits.
Interestingly, Jesus uses these concepts to teach an important principle, yet without ever mentioning money. Specifically, He uses them to teach His disciples about the cost of following Him.
Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” (Mt. 8:18–22)
In this passage Jesus addresses two groups of people. The first includes those that are naively optimistic. I picture this taking place on a sunny day in which a man in this group (with a full stomach) enjoys Jesus’ inspirational teaching, eagerly watches healing miracles and raises his fist in solidarity as Jesus denounces local rulers. Out of the crowd comes the man’s proclamation, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Despite his eagerness to join Jesus, the Messiah corrects his miscalculation. He points out that He is not going house-to-house enjoying the comforts of being hosted, but on the contrary, all who follow Him must be prepared even to be homeless.
It is reminiscent of the Norman Rockwell painting of the runaway boy sitting at the diner counter next to the police officer. On the floor is a stick with a kerchief tied to the far end, presumably carrying the boy’s meager supply of resources for his “journey.” It cleverly depicts the foolishness of the child. Likewise, Jesus cautions the naively optimistic person not to follow Him. He is not interested in recruiting followers are thoughtlessly presumptuous. He insists that His followers acknowledge the trials associated with the commitment.
On the other end of the spectrum is the second group. It consists of worry warts that can produce a list as long your arm of the reasons to follow Him later. Here Jesus tells the would-be follower to get his priorities in order. In other words, there is no category for accomplishing things before committing to the sacrificial life of following Christ. Jesus uses even stronger language the gospel of Matthew.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Mt. 10:37–38)
There is no “saving up” or “balancing your life books” before taking up your cross. There is nothing in this world with greater urgency than living for Him.
It’s endearing when a four-year-old talks irrationally about money, but there’s nothing cute about a 24-year-old (or 44, or 84…) doing it. The same is true when it comes to living for Christ. Think soberly about what is involved in living life as a Christian, taking care not to be thoughtlessly presumptuous or bogged down with day-to-day worries. Don’t be naively optimistic and don’t make excuses.
Which way are you more likely lean? Are you more likely to haplessly “commit” when the going is good, only to find it is much harder to live the Christian life than you imagined? Or are you realistic about living sacrificially for Christ, but later. Ask God to help you to realistically count the cost and to commit to that investment without reservation. The payoff will be more than you can ask or imagine.