Lorain County Free-Net Chapel

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~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~


Question: What does it mean to count the cost to follow Jesus? What if you find the cost too costly? Can you like get out of the call of God? Let's face it - a lot of ministers burn out and quit the ministry, and why do so many ministers quit the ministry? Is ministry that bad? So if a person feels God calling them into the ministry, and they have serious battles with doubt and fear, they probably should consider just not doing it, huh? Is it right to first consider the cost? So how does one consider the cost when one walks by faith? Is it like to consider if we have enough faith to count the cost?

I am very confused about all this, and in my heart I want to follow God, but I am having to pay a costly cost, and, to tell you truth, I feel overwelmed by this cost, considering I have lived in my state all my married life and we feel God is calling us to move 1,000 miles away from all that we have known all 14 years of our married life to follow the call of God he has on our life.

I would be very gratefull for any help or maybe some suggestion that could help me in my journey of faith. Thank you again for your time and may God direct your heart in this letter and may he show you what to do with it.

Answer: I am assuming from the overall subject matter of your questions that your first question is directly referring to following Jesus into a life of ministry. With that assumption, I will approach each of your questions in that light.

What does it mean to count the cost to follow Jesus? What if you find the cost too costly. Can you like get out of the call of God?

The only biblical principle that can closely be applied in reference to the context of the previous questions is found in Luke 14. Please take a look specifically at verses 27-33. I will type out only two of the verses for the sake of space and briefly comment. Luke 14:27 says, "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." The context of this particular portion of Scripture is specifically concerning living for God, ie. true Christianity. It is about following Jesus, serving Jesus, living for Jesus. God requires that we love Him and serve Him with all our heart, soul and might. He will take second place to no one or nothing. Christians are cross-bearers. It is in their hearts to bear the cross, whatever it be, whenever Christ requires. Christians have resolved that Christ is Master, and we are called to serve. We are His servants.

What does it mean to count the cost? When you consider the fact that God has taken us as a poor, blind, naked and wretched sinner and made us a prince, and causes us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ... It will cost us the giving up of our former, meager manners and replace those manners with the noble and worthy requirements of God. Is the cost too high? I would boldly say that we have received the better deal! Would we be so foolish as to turn down such an offer? Would a poor, homeless and hungry orphan refuse an offer of a warm bed, plenty of food and a storehouse of limitless riches? The choice is ours. Jesus concludes his statements with the following ultimatum: (v. 33) "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." ... I choose to follow Christ!

Let's face it - a lot of ministers burn out and quit the ministry, and why do so many ministers quit the ministry? Is ministry that bad?

The reason why so many ministers "burn out" and quit is because they have not kept a proper relationship with the Lord. Any relationship that is not properly maintained is bound for failure. One might say, "Two out of three marriages end in divorce. Is marriage that bad?" The answer to these questions would be quite the same. The writer of Hebrews said that marriage is honorable in all (Heb. 13:4). The apostle Paul said in 1Tim 3:1, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." (See also Romans 10:15.)

I will not deny the fact that the ministry is oftentimes difficult, and that God's ministers may suffer some severe blows from the enemy. But God is faithful to come alongside and help us during those difficult times, and His rewards will follow the faithful.

So if a person feels God calling them into the ministry, and they have serious battles with doubt and fear, they probably should consider just not doing it, huh?

I would have to say from experience that doubts and fears have come to every one who has responded to the call of God into some field of ministry. God will never call someone to work for Him who is not capable for the task. Keep in mind that God has used some very unlikely candidates throughout all of history to do mighty things for Him... Consider just a few: Moses, Gideon, David.

I could never counsel you to simply refuse the call of God on your life because of your own doubts and fears. These are things that you will have to work out by the help and grace of Almighty God. If you are battling with serious doubts and fears, rest assured that God knows.

Is it right to first consider the cost? So how does one consider the cost when one walks by faith? Is it like to consider if we have enough faith to count the cost? I am very confused about all this, and in my heart I want to follow God, but I am having to pay a costly cost, and, to tell you truth, I feel overwelmed by this cost, considering I have lived in my state all my married life and we feel God is calling us to move 1,000 miles away from all that we have known all 14 years of our married life to follow the call of God he has on our life. I would be very gratefull for any help or maybe some suggestion that could help me in my journey of faith. Thank you again for your time and may God direct your heart in this letter and may he show you what to do with it.

Have you faith enough to trust God for the salvation of your eternal soul, and not faith that He can keep you and sustain you a days journey from where you presently reside? I must say that you are a prime person for God to use. On the other hand it seems to me that you have a lot of growing to do and rest assured that if you daily submit your will to His and say yes to every demand He makes of you, He will be your source and strength. A friend of mine once shared a promise God gave to Him that is backed up by Scripture. He said, "Where God's finger points the way, God's hand will make a way." I would encourage you not to allow your own selfish desires or motives prevent you from stepping out to follow God's course for your life.


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