Counting Cost / Staying Salty

In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus challenges the large crowds following Him with sobering words: "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." He warns would-be followers to count the cost of discipleship by comparing it to a builder estimating expenses or a king weighing the strength of his army.

Why does Jesus inject this tension into His teaching? On one hand, disciples at that moment could not fully realize either the cost (persecution, sacrifice, even death) or the reward (eternal life, fellowship with God, and entry into His kingdom). By raising the standard so high, Jesus cuts through shallow enthusiasm. Some followed for miracles, food, or curiosity. Counting the cost forced them to recognize that discipleship was not a passing thrill, but a lifelong surrender.

At the same time, this tension is not meant to drive people away in despair but to draw them into deeper faith. True discipleship requires trust, because faith grows in the gap between what we know now and what God will later reveal. Jesus calls His followers to commit without knowing the full picture, because He Himself is trustworthy.

Immediately following this teaching, Jesus offers the brief parable of salt (Luke 14:34-35). Here He warns that salt without saltiness is worthless. The point is plain: disciples who lose their distinctiveness, perseverance, or usefulness are no better than tasteless salt, thrown out and forgotten.

The connection is natural. Counting the cost prevents a shallow beginning, while remaining salty prevents a wasted ending. Both lessons emphasize the same truth: discipleship is total commitment that endures.

In the end, we may not fully understand the sacrifices we will face or the blessings we will receive when we begin following Christ. But Jesus insists that we start with sober awareness, continue with enduring faith, and remain salty for the glory of God.