Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21 (WEB)

The greatest threat to the church today is posed by people who are more fans of Jesus than followers of Jesus. They want to be close enough to Jesus to receive something from Him, but not so close that it requires anything from them.

The rich young man was willing to follow Jesus as long as it didn't cost him his inheritance. When Jesus raises a challenge to him to give away everything he had, the rich young man chose the pull of money over the choice to pursue Jesus.

Following Jesus will cost us.

His call for radical discipleship challenges our way of life that is oriented towards personal comfort, self-centred focus and individualistic behaviour. All the earthly riches and fame we have cannot compare to the true and eternal riches of Christ. If we truly understand the gospel of grace, the cost to follow Jesus is not a cost or even a burden. It appears costly because we have yet to completely surrender ourselves to Jesus and let Him live out His life in us through His Spirit. But when we give ourselves to follow His lead, we have no qualms about losing what we cannot keep so as to experience the joy of keeping what we cannot lose.

The power to follow Jesus flows from the revelation of who He is to us and who we are to Him. You have such a worth in Christ that is beyond measure. Once you know this truth and begin to live it, there is nothing you are not prepared to give up for the sake of His Kingdom. His life in you gives you the ability to live more freely without fear of losing out on life. This is the context why Jesus told His disciples, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Following Jesus comes with a promise of eternal reward.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Matthew 19:28-30 (ESV)

Pursue Jesus and don’t give or get weary. Our treasure in heaven is far greater and more magnificent than anything this world can offer.