24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Matthew 10:24-25
“It is enough…”. A true disciple wants nothing more than to be like his Master. Jesus did not have much in the world in terms of tangible things. He was born in a barn. As an adult, He did not have a home and all the ‘important’ people hated him. They wanted to kill him and they did. Yet Jesus had all the intangible things. Do we want more than what Jesus had?
“…how much more…” Given that a true disciple does not want to surpass his Master, Jesus gives a warning to those thinking they may want to follow him. The warning is clear, as you become more like Christ, people will treat you more like He was treated. How do we want to be treated?
In addition to how others will treat us, Jesus gives other warnings to those who considered following him. Knowing the heart of each, perhaps Jesus tailored the warnings. Do we relate to any?
Comfort
In Matthew 8:19-20 the scribe who said he would follow Jesus is told that following Him would mean forgoing a life of comfort. A home is the baseline of comfort.
Inheritance
In Matthew 8:21-22 one that would follow Jesus is told that following would mean forgoing his inheritance. Following Jesus, for this scribe, may mean a life without the wealth of his family and perhaps one full of dependence. “Allow me to bury my father” is another way of saying, I’ll be back once he’s died and I’ve received all that is coming to me.
Family
Later in Matthew chapter 10 verses 34 thru 37 (Matthew 10:34-37), Jesus teaches that following him will mean being ready to depart from family.
Counting the Cost
Jesus made sure we knew the cost of following Him and the importance of counting the cost so we could finish what we started and receive our reward. (Luke 14:25-34, Matthew 13:45-46, 2Timothy 4:6-8, Galatians 6:9).
Counting the cost of being a Christian means being willing to give up seeking approval and popularity, status and the favor of men, comfort, an inheritance, and even family.
Counting the cost of being a Christian means being ready to trade all these things for eternal promises. Not just some. Here is a promise God made in Matthew chapter 10.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. – Matthew 10:39
Oh God, that we might trust You with all. You are good and You alone are worthy of all our trust LORD. Amen.
Painting: Christ Calling His First Disciples – Adam Brenner (1800–1891)