Print this pageCost/Benefit Ratio
Elder Wayne Crocker
In the world of commerce there are often cost/benefit studies. During the last number of years I worked with the State Department of Transportation, I was involved to some extent with the planning of new highways. There were studies made to determine how much time and money would be saved by motorists using the proposed facility over a period of time compared to the cost of constructing or improving the proposed road. If the benefit did not exceed the cost there was no justification in going on with the project.
Jesus taught that there are some costs and benefits in following Him. It appears He would have those who desired to follow Him to count the cost involved as well as the benefits. Once a scribe came to him and said, "Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest" (Matthew 8: 19). Jesus knew what was in the heart of this scribe. The scripture doesn't tell us what motivated this scribe. But perhaps, he was seeing what he perceived to be great benefits in a material sense in following this great teacher and worker of miracles. If that was the case Jesus let Him know that there were costs involved and no promise of material gain.
"And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes; have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). Others had things they needed to do before following Jesus (Matthew 8:21, Luke 9:59-62). Jesus let them know that nothing was to stand in their way of following Him. A follower of Jesus must be willing to forsake all that stands in the way of obedience to Him.
Jesus told the rich man that he must sell what he had and give to the poor and follow Jesus in order to have treasure in heaven (Luke 18:18-22). Notice Jesus did not tell him what he must do to inherit eternal heaven, even though the man had asked him that question. The scripture is plain in teaching that we do not do good things in order to possess eternal life, but we do so because eternal life has been bestowed on us by God's grace. But Jesus does tell the man that there are treasures to be obtained by forsaking worldly riches and walking in obedience to the Lord. These treasures in heaven can be enjoyed by a child of God as they walk through this life.
The man was not willing to pay the cost and went away "very sorrowful: for he was very rich" (Luke 18:23). The disciples apparently though Jesus had laid down a condition for obtaining eternal life, for they asked the question, "Who then can be saved?" (Luke 18: 26). "And he said, The things that are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27).
Peter had a desire to know what the benefits were in following Jesus. We don't find him asking about this matter when Jesus first called him from his fishing occupation. There Peter immediately left his nets and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:19-20).
But after Jesus had discussed the situation of the rich man, Peter wanted to know what he and the other disciples would receive due to their obedience: "Then answered answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" (Matthew 19:27). I believe the answer recorded in Mark is the most thorough in regard to the present subject:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29,30).
Jesus is not telling Peter that he is going to receive all these benefits in a physical sense. But there is a spiritual relationship with fellow saints in the household of faith that is more precious than those natural family relationshipsl If we are not considering our fellow church members as our most important family members, we have not yet attained what the Lord would have us to in His kingdom.
We need to also notice that along with these benefits come persecutions. But Jesus lets us know that even in these persecutions there are also benefits: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake" (Matthew 5:11).
There are many other aspects to this subject. Perhaps we may discuss them in more detail later.