“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.’… In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” — Luke 14:28–33
As we saw in the last study, Disciples Live in the Upside-Down Kingdom, those who belong to Christ live by the values of God’s Kingdom which turns the logic of the world upside down. Greatness is found in humility, wealth in generosity, and life in surrender. But Jesus never asked anyone to follow Him blindly. Before stepping into this new Kingdom life, He called His followers to pause and carefully consider their decision.
He illustrated this through telling two short parables about a man building a tower and a king going to war. Both teach that wisdom requires careful evaluation. Just as a builder makes his plans before beginning construction, so a disciple must understand what following Jesus truly requires.
Explaining the meaning of his analogies, Jesus didn’t soften what was truly required. He didn’t promise worldly success, an easy life or a smooth path. Rather He warned that discipleship would cost everything. He counseled those that would follow him to weigh carefully their decision before making a commitment.
Decision Making
In the business world, analyzing whether to invest in a particular business or project requires a full understanding of three major components: cost, benefit, and risk. While of course this is rather simplified, but the decision to follow Jesus is no different. The decision to become His disciple is the most significant one we will ever make – one that affects both our life now and our eternity. Jesus asks us to weigh it carefully. Refusing to decide is essentially a decision to say no.
Let’s begin by understanding the price of following Jesus.
The Cost: Everything
After telling His parables, Jesus concluded with absolute clarity: “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples.” The cost of discipleship is not a portion of our possessions or a slice of our time, it is everything. Following Jesus means that no area of life is off-limits. Our relationships, careers, finances, and ambitions all come under His lordship.
At first glance, that might sound unfair, or even impossible. But Jesus is not asking us to give Him that is rightfully ours. As we learned in Study #14, everything already belongs to God: our money, possessions, abilities, and even our lives. Jesus is calling us to acknowledge His ownership, not just intellectually but in practice.
The cost of discipleship is not about losing control; it’s about recognizing reality. When we surrender everything to Jesus, we are returning what was never ours to keep. God entrusts His resources to us so that we might use them for His purposes.
When the rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:18–23), Jesus led him through three steps:
- He challenged his view of God: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”
- He confronted him with obedience to God’s law, not mere belief.
- He called him to surrender: “Sell everything you have and give to the poor … then come, follow Me.”
Jesus didn’t ask for part of his heart – He asked for all of it. The man’s sadness revealed the truth: his possessions mattered more than Christ. The cost was too high. Discipleship demands a full transfer of trust – from self to Savior.
The Benefits: Eternal Life
While the cost is high, the return is infinitely greater. Discipleship is not about loss but about exchange—trading what is temporary for what is eternal. Here are some of the rewards of following Jesus:
- True Life – “Whoever loses their life for Me will find it” (Mt 16:25). We are surrendering a temporary existence for eternal life. And accompanying this new life we receive joy, peace, and freedom that is only found in Him.
- A New Identity – Through surrender, we cease living as citizens of the world, strangers to God, and become sons and daughters of God. We are no longer defined by success, failure, or possessions but by belonging to Christ.
- Spiritual Security – While earthly investments can fail, the treasures of heaven never lose value (Mt 6:20). Nothing done for Christ is ever wasted.
- The Presence of God – In surrender, we experience His nearness. Jesus promised, “My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them” (John 14:23).
In the end, the question is not whether the cost is too great, but whether the reward is worth it. And every true disciple finds it beyond compare.
The Risk: Losing your Soul
The third factor in any great decision is risk.
The risk of indecision: In Luke 14:33, Jesus says, “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples.” The Greek word dunatai (“cannot”), means “not able” or “without the strength.” Without full surrender, it’s not just that we won’t follow Jesus—we can’t. There is no such thing as a part-time disciple. Refusing to choose is already choosing against Him.
The risk of choosing the world: Jesus asked, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). The world’s pleasures are fleeting, but the cost of rejecting Christ is eternal.
The risk of turning back: Jesus warned, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Discipleship is not about convenience but constancy. Looking back leads to crooked rows; a divided heart cannot walk straight in the way of Christ.
When we count the cost, we must also count the cost of not following Jesus. The world offers comfort now but cannot promise eternal life. The risk of following Christ may be great, but the risk of refusing Him is far greater.
What this Means for a Disciple Today
When we surrender everything, we discover that what we feared to lose is nothing compared to what we gain: peace, joy, and life in His Kingdom. Jesus asks for everything because He gave everything.
Discipleship is:
Total — There are no partial disciples. (Luke 14:27)
Essential — Following Jesus is not optional. (Matthew 10:39)
Lifelong — “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)
If we are truly honest in counting the cost, understanding the gain, and evaluating the risk, the result is clear and entirely worth it. Missionary Jim Elliot, who gave his life for the gospel, wrote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” That sentence captures the logic of the Kingdom: losing to gain, giving to receive, and dying to truly live.
Having counted the cost, Jesus also warned that those who follow Him will face rejection. The world that hated Him will hate His disciples also. In the next study, Hated for His Name, we’ll explore what it means to remain faithful when the world turns against us, “Disciples Will Be Hated by the World.”
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Jesus urged His followers to “sit down and estimate the cost” before choosing to follow Him.
What personal “costs” might you need to consider in following Jesus fully? How do you evaluate whether you are willing to pay them?
Jesus said that anyone who does not “give up everything” cannot be His disciple.
In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to surrender control or ownership to God?
The rich young ruler wanted eternal life but could not let go of his wealth. (Luke 18:18–23)
What does his story reveal about divided loyalty? How can you guard your heart from loving something more than Christ?
Jesus teaches that surrender leads to true gain.
How have you experienced this “upside-down logic” of the Kingdom, losing something you valued but finding deeper joy or peace in return?
Discipleship comes with great cost but greater reward.
Which of the benefits described in this study, true life, new identity, eternal treasure, or God’s presence encourages you most to follow Jesus wholeheartedly?
Jesus warned that those who turn back after starting the journey are “not fit for the Kingdom.”
What do you understand from this statement? What helps you stay steadfast when the road of discipleship becomes difficult or costly?
Counting the cost is not a one-time calculation but a daily decision.
What practical steps can you take to reaffirm your decision to follow Jesus with your whole heart?
My name is Michael Adkins. For several decades I’ve been studying Scripture, developing discipleship resources, and teaching others how to walk more closely with Christ. Currently, I serve as the Discipleship Pathway Leader at Riverside International Church in Cascais, Portugal, where my passion is helping believers grow into mature disciples who live out their faith in everyday life.