How much does it cost?

As my little baby girl is getting ready to come into this world Sarah and I are preparing by buying her all these clothes. Yeah it's fun and exciting but before we buy anything I always ask, "how much does it cost." I'll be honest, i'm stingy when it comes to spending money. Sometimes I'll splurge but not often, Georgia grace already has me wrapped around her finger. I don't think twice about getting her something that looks like, or looks like it would be fun. The price really doesn't matter that much to me because I know who I'm getting it for. The price is irrelevant....to a certain point.

 Luke 9 talks about the cost of folllowing Jesus. Jesus actually seems to talk people OUT OF following him. 3 guys, 3 different repsonses but all required them to give up something.Jesus knew it was going to be tough and he just wanted the guys to know what it would be like. It wasn't glamorous but glorious!

That was a tough passage for me to get through because in my life following Jesus really didn't cost me much. If we are honest with ourselves what does following Jesus REALLY cost us??? Jesus asked guys to give up their jobs, families, lifestyles, etc. but for me it was a pretty easy decision. There's never a fear of being put in jail because of my faith, i don't worry about where food is going to come from, the decision wasn't that difficult. If I'm honest the cost WASN'T that high.

My decision to follow Jesus may not have cost ME much but if it might cost my neighbor more, or the poor, or the widows. I believe that here in affluent America, the cost for NOT following Jesus is higher for THEM than US. If Christians aren't going to follow the commands of Jesus, who is?If we choose to not give to the poor, not feed the hungry, not help the widows, not love our neighbor, the cost of that disobedience is HIGH. What if we choose to build larger homes, build larger facilities, wear nicer clothes and FORGET to do those other things...who pays for that more? Think about your sacrifice, then think about the sacrifice of a believer in Asia, or orphan in Africa that needs your help to LIVE.

That's what the cost is for me, that's how I need to follow. My initial decision may not have cost me much, but now I see the price I need to pay through support of others, volunteering my time, loving my neighbor.

Is the price irrelevant...to a certain point?  Or, Is the price irrelevant.