"Stressed or Blessed?" - Luke 14:25-33 - September 5, 2004

During my business career I attended a number of workshops for sales people. One time the presenter told us that the biggest problem with sales is that the salesperson does not close the deal. It’s not because they don’t know the product or present themselves professionally, it’s because they fail to ask the customer to sign on. You can be knowledgeable, well-groomed, totally professional, charming and even charismatic, but at some point you must "close" the deal.

I believe this is also true for those who claim to be disciples of Jesus. Being nice, working hard, or being educated is all useless unless you are willing to go all the way. What Jesus is talking about in this chapter is commitment. Discipleship requires commitment. It means that discipleship should be our number one priority. It means that even our families should be given lesser attention. It means we need to know what we are getting in to. And, it means sacrifice.

None of these are popular in our society. Ask anyone and they will tell you that family comes first. However, Jesus is saying that by putting family ahead of being a disciple falls short of being fully committed.

Recently, my daughter told me that she and her husband would be paying $1,800 this year for my granddaughter’s ballet lessons. I was amazed at the cost. But, they are not alone. Parents these days spend billions of dollars so their children can participate in extra curricular activities. They also spend time and energy running them from practice to practice and event to event. Many of these programs take place on Sunday mornings therefore Sunday School and Church become a lower priority.

Jesus is not saying, "Don’t love your children," or "Be irresponsible when it comes to family." No, Jesus is saying that your children and family will reap greater benefits if you practice discipleship. Rather than be stressed, Jesus wants us to be blessed.

The salesperson who fails to ask his/her customer to sign on and close the deal misses out on a blessing. I remember the time I traveled with one of my new salesmen to a small town in Southern Ohio. We had been given a new product, a Welch Allen otoscope. I made an appointment with the doctor, presented the product and at the end of my presentation I said, "So, Doctor, how many do you want to purchase?" To my surprise he said, "I’ll take three." That sale totaled about $400. What a great feeling it was to get that sale. But, what if I had not been fully committed. What if I said, "If you are interested, give us a call."

To be fully committed in anything requires four things, as Jesus illustrates in the story. First, it requires prioritizing. This he emphasizes by saying that discipleship is more important than family. Secondly, it requires resources. The man who builds a tower must calculate what the total cost is before he attempts to start construction. Third, it requires realism. Just as a small army should not do battle against an army twice its size, neither should we take on something that is beyond our reach. And fourth, it requires sacrifice. You can’t be a successful disciple by holding on to all your possessions.

Jesus doesn’t seem to give us a whole lot of "wiggle" room here. It’s almost as if he is saying, "If you aren’t fully committed then you shouldn’t even try." Let’s be honest, putting discipleship ahead of family is not very appealing. And who of us is willing to let go of everything and commit ourselves 100 percent to being a disciple?

Perhaps it goes back to what I said earlier; "Do you want to be stressed or blessed?"

Jesus continues in the next four chapters describing the challenges of being a disciple. His final words in this section can be found in chapter 18, verses 29-30. He says, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life."

I believe that Jesus is saying that our lives are blessed when we make an effort to focus on the needs of others. Just as he was compassionate on the crowd during a difficult time in his life, he knows that we can do the same.

When Arundel Bell was a young student at St. Michael’s School in Dallas, Texas, her teacher noticed her reading skills were lower than her peers. She had difficulty pronouncing words. Her teacher had her tested and she was diagnosed with dyslexia. She was discouraged with the news but since she was a high achiever she was determined to overcome her disability. With the help of tutors she was able to increase her reading skills and began to develop a love for reading.

She was tested again and it was determined that her dyslexia was at a minimum. She was overjoyed at the news but she felt that something was missing in her life. The missing link was discovered when she made the decision to be a Candy Striper at a local hospital. She worked with other children and began reading to children in the hospital. Before she was apprehensive about reading in class and frustrated with her inability to read. Now she was reading to others which helped her to regain the confidence in herself. She had overcome her disability and was helping others to overcome theirs. As a result her life now had real meaning. (from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II)

Most people fill the emptiness in their lives with activities, especially competitive sports or activities that give them a sense of belonging. But too much of these can stress us out as our lives become overbooked and overwhelmed. Winning gold medals and being part of a winning team is fine, but real blessings come when we take the time to have compassion for others.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio