Worth the Cost
"Jesus said to him, 'If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." – Matthew 19:21-22
The story of the rich young ruler is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of someone who wanted to follow Jesus, but not badly enough. He was eager. He was curious. He was even moral. But when Jesus challenged him to give up the one thing that held the highest place in his heart, he walked away.
Jesus knew this man’s heart. He knew that money was his idol. And Jesus was not trying to be harsh or unreasonable. He was trying to show the man what real surrender looked like. Because following Jesus always costs something. It costs comfort. It costs pride. It may even cost relationships, opportunities, or possessions. But it is always worth it.
Sometimes we want the benefits of following Jesus without the price of obedience. We want heaven, but not surrender. We want peace, but not sacrifice. And when we hear Jesus call us to lay something down, we hesitate. Like the rich young ruler, we feel the tension between our desire to follow Jesus and our desire to hold on to something else.
But here’s the question we all have to answer. When Jesus says, “follow me,” will we go all in? Will we trust Him enough to give Him everything? Will we believe that what He gives in return is far greater than anything we could ever lose?
This is not about legalism or trying to earn God's love. It is about choosing to follow Jesus wherever He leads, no matter what it costs. Because He is worth it. The road may not be easy, but the destination is life, joy, and purpose that cannot be found anywhere else.
Jesus is still asking today. Will you follow Me? Not just when it’s easy, not just when it’s convenient, but fully, completely, and with nothing held back. Whatever He asks you to lay down, know this. What you gain in Him will always outweigh what you give up. Every single time.
The story of the rich young ruler is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of someone who wanted to follow Jesus, but not badly enough. He was eager. He was curious. He was even moral. But when Jesus challenged him to give up the one thing that held the highest place in his heart, he walked away.
Jesus knew this man’s heart. He knew that money was his idol. And Jesus was not trying to be harsh or unreasonable. He was trying to show the man what real surrender looked like. Because following Jesus always costs something. It costs comfort. It costs pride. It may even cost relationships, opportunities, or possessions. But it is always worth it.
Sometimes we want the benefits of following Jesus without the price of obedience. We want heaven, but not surrender. We want peace, but not sacrifice. And when we hear Jesus call us to lay something down, we hesitate. Like the rich young ruler, we feel the tension between our desire to follow Jesus and our desire to hold on to something else.
But here’s the question we all have to answer. When Jesus says, “follow me,” will we go all in? Will we trust Him enough to give Him everything? Will we believe that what He gives in return is far greater than anything we could ever lose?
This is not about legalism or trying to earn God's love. It is about choosing to follow Jesus wherever He leads, no matter what it costs. Because He is worth it. The road may not be easy, but the destination is life, joy, and purpose that cannot be found anywhere else.
Jesus is still asking today. Will you follow Me? Not just when it’s easy, not just when it’s convenient, but fully, completely, and with nothing held back. Whatever He asks you to lay down, know this. What you gain in Him will always outweigh what you give up. Every single time.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God
February
Freedom from LabelsFaithful Before the AppointmentLabels Don’t Define YouPut Off the ArmorRun Your Own RaceA Champion, Not a ContestantThe Story’s Not OverWhat Really MattersWinning the Battle WithinYou Are Positioned for a PurposeYour Worth Is SetYou Are EnoughTake Off the MaskOn Purpose, For a PurposeKnown. Loved. Enough.What Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Trying to Hide?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?What Are You Chasing?Stop Faking ItAre You Living in Fear?Stop Hiding Behind FearLive in God’s TruthOne OpportunityYour Identity Is in ChristYou’re His WorkmanshipYour Weakness Doesn’t Disqualify YouYou’re in God’s Providence
March
Stop Living the LiesGod Put You HereGod Didn’t Make a MistakeYou Belong HereTake Off the MaskBreaking Free from Imposter SyndromeWhat Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?Leading with HumilityLeading with WisdomStop Holding Yourself BackWho Are You Really?The Cost of Believing the LieT.H.I.N.K.Failure Is Not FinalThere is a Dream Inside of YouIt’s Time to Dream AgainThe Journey to Your DreamBe Careful Who You Share Your Dream WithWhen the Dream Leads to a PitThey Can’t Steal God’s FavorFaithful in the Small ThingsIntegrity When No One (and Everyone) is WatchingWhose Name Are You Building?God Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Has Not Forgotten YouA Renewed Mind Changes EverythingA Mind Set on the SpiritChange Starts from the Inside OutThe Power of BeliefA Renewed Mind Sees Differently
1 Comment
It’s probably good for me to try and see things from another’s perspective. I think to myself wow. There are some people who don’t have a pressing need for God in their life. My experience is just one of already having a life that was completely messed up. I spent 25 years trying to find a solution to my situation. So when I finally encountered Jesus it completely changed the course of my life. I’ve been all in since the start of that. How could I not be? I was dead and now I am alive. He really has blessed me. Worth it and then some. But I gotta say I didn’t give up anything worth having in the first place. And the truth is I don’t think most people really realize what they are trying to hold on to either. I didn’t even though it was killing me. I am so grateful that God chose to reveal Himself to me and show me what I didn’t know. I was dead on the inside and pretty confused my physical life was going to end soon as well. Looking out on the world expecting these to be your last days gave me a perspective I had never seen before. Even my worst days I was sincerely grateful for and the truth of my behavior was almost too much for me to bear. It was exactly what I needed.