The Cost of Fishing

Luke 9:23–27 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

When I want to buy things, it takes a very long time, especially if a lot of money is involved. Why is this? Well, when you purchase things, there is a cost. This June, Amanda and I are going to be celebrating five years of marriage. Time is going by way to quickly. This thing called a proposal had to happen prior to our marriage ceremony. December 2013, I gathered my roommate Brandon and one of Amanda’s friends to head off to the Jewelry store. To give you an idea into my brain, I had already spent months plotting out this purchase for an engagement ring. Brandon and Lindsey did not know what they were getting into with going to purchase a ring with me. I needed both of them as I was seeking to purchase the ring that would show my love for Amanda.

The store opens at ten so we decide to meet up in the parking lot at 9:45. I wanted to be the first in, so that I can begin the process. What felt like five hours later (it was probably 2 hours), after much debate, I finally chose the ring. I almost considered heading home prior to the purchase, just to think over the purchase longer. However, I did not do that, because it was a cost I was willing to pay. I knew of my love for Amanda and desire to marry her. I knew life would change, but I was ready to count the cost. It was the best decision I have made.

The cost of following Jesus is even heavier than a marriage proposal. The cost of following Jesus effects your eternity. Your yes to following Jesus, or your no will have eternal impact.

Tonight, we are going to evaluate the cost of fishing. As we seek to learn and study about our one fish in the sea, we must understand that there is a great cost associated with following Jesus or the world.

As we study the cost of fishing, lets begin by first studying The cost of following Jesus.

The Cost of Following Jesus.

I am not going to sugar coat this. Following Jesus is going to cost you something. If we are going fishing, it is going to cost us something. Many of you are lucky, since you are under 16, but Virginia requires a fishing license for those over 16. In order to fish on public property, it cost you something. This fishing license fee is minimal compared to the cost of being a disciple of Jesus. We are three costs associated with following Jesus.

1. Deny yourself

Everybody enjoys talking about themself. There is a reason that some get to know you forms are called “Me, Myself, and I”. I don’t know about you, but I can talk about myself and I can do it well…because I know myself better than anybody. I want to be the best that I can be.

Saying no to yourself can be extremely challenging. For me that is sugary food. I love me a good ice cream or dessert. For some of us, it may be that girl or that guy. Maybe it is a new pair of shoes. What about a new video game or electronic device. Saying no to self is not easy, but even in life, it is often necessary.

Jesus commands us to deny self.

What is Jesus really getting at here. What does it truly mean to deny self. The original Greek language tells us to disown yourself. Well that does not sound fun does it? Jesus is commanding us to a high task. Disowning means you are removing yourself from something. We are truly deny ourselves. We are getting away from the mentality of “Me, Myself, and I” and coming back to it is all about Him.

I can deny myself from that dessert. You can deny yourself from that movie or video game. You can deny yourself from that unhealthy relationship. Jesus goes even further saying we need to deny ourself fully, not just an area, but full surrender of our lives in order to fully follow Him. This is a bold task, but so worth it because it is a cost worthy paying in order to follow Jesus

Jesus gave of himself fully. He denied himself, so that we can follow Him.

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2. Pick up your cross

We have Hollywoodized the cross today. While the cross should be a memorial and a symbol. The cross back in Jesus’ time was a symbol of torture and persecution. Today we have the death penalty, execution, the electric chair. Jesus had the cross. If we think back to the last couple of weeks, we see and have learned that Jesus called the disciples to follow Him. They followed him and saw some amazing things.

Seven signs in the book of John

Water to wine

Jesus heals an official’s son

Jesus heals the paralyzed

Jesus feeds the 5000

Jesus walks on the water

Jesus heals the blind man

Jesus raises Lazarus

These disciples have been following Jesus for so long and are seeing all these amazing miracles. Jesus is not calling us to be miracle chasers (though we will see him do amazing things).

The greatest miracle is that Jesus died on the cross and rose again three days later. This is what Jesus is calling us to. The brutal death and punishment on the cross, taken for you…Yes you…that is what Jesus is calling us to. He’s asking us to pick up our cross daily. We need the cross. We need to deny ourselves and trust in the cross. The cross is our hope, the cross is the truth. We need to daily choose Christ.

3. Follow Jesus

Jesus wants us to follow Him. Following something is not easy. I don’t know about you, but every time friends wanted to play follow the leader (I wanted to be the leader; because it is about Me, Myself, and I). Following something and submitting to something is not easy. However, I can guarantee you all know how to follow.

you follow people on social media

you follow gamers on youtube or twitch

You follow your friends.

You follow each other.

You follow your family

You follow musicians.

Following these things requires you to hit a simple follow button. Jesus is not just asking us to hit a follow button. He wants your life. You are not going to give your life to social media (though some do), same thing with all the other things mentioned. If we are honest, anything we give more attention to than Jesus…that is what we are following.

You follow so many things, but

This is why there is a three part step here in the cost of following Jesus. Every single day you have to wake up and decide that I am going to deny myself. Myself and my desires do not matter. Everyday you must pick up your cross. And you have to follow Jesus. Jesus was not calling the first disciples to a one time act of following him. He wanted their life and expected their everything when they followed him. These disciples spent three years in close community with Jesus, following him and learning what it meant to deny self (they left everything) to follow Jesus.

The cost is so numerous that words cannot express. Following Jesus takes your everything.

It is very easy to go through life and follow Jesus (you see the miracles, witness the healings) and simply be a hitting the like button. Look at Judas…who spent three years with Jesus and had everyone fooled. When the cost of following Jesus required life sacrifice, Judas darted. We must count the cost and we must follow Jesus. Jesus paid it all for us…sacrificing worldly success or happiness is well worth the cost.

The Cost of Following the World.

Follow Jesus

Go and Make Disciples