What does it truly mean when we say obeying God can “cost everything”? I’m not just thinking about a literal, physical cost like martyrdom, though that’s a part of it. I’m curious about the nuances. Does it encompass sacrificing personal ambitions and dreams? What about relationships with family and friends who don’t understand or agree with your faith? How does the concept of “everything” shift depending on individual circumstances, cultural contexts, and even different interpretations of what God is calling you to do? Does this “cost” always involve suffering, or can it also include foregoing certain privileges or comforts? And ultimately, is the promise of eternal reward sufficient to justify such a potentially devastating price?
Answer
For obeying God to cost everything means that adhering to God’s will, commandments, or perceived divine purpose requires the complete and utter sacrifice of one’s earthly possessions, relationships, aspirations, comfort, safety, and even life itself. It signifies a total and uncompromising commitment to God that transcends all other considerations.
This cost can manifest in numerous ways:
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Loss of Material Possessions: Following God’s call might necessitate giving away wealth, property, or worldly goods to help others, support a ministry, or renounce a lifestyle deemed incompatible with divine teachings.
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Severance of Relationships: Obedience to God could create conflict with family, friends, or community members who do not share the same beliefs or values. It might require distancing oneself from relationships that compromise one’s faith or moral integrity. Some religions may even require shunning family members who have left the faith.
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Sacrifice of Personal Ambitions: Career goals, educational pursuits, or personal dreams might need to be abandoned if they conflict with God’s perceived plan for one’s life. A person might be called to a vocation that offers no worldly reward or recognition, but instead requires serving others in obscurity.
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Endurance of Suffering and Persecution: In many contexts, particularly those hostile to religious beliefs, obeying God can lead to persecution, discrimination, imprisonment, or even death. This might involve facing social ostracism, verbal abuse, physical violence, or legal penalties for practicing one’s faith or standing up for one’s beliefs.
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Loss of Freedom and Autonomy: Surrendering to God’s will implies relinquishing control over one’s own life and decisions. It means trusting in a higher power and accepting a path that may not be chosen independently. This can involve submitting to religious authority, adhering to strict moral codes, and accepting limitations on personal choices.
- Ultimately, the Loss of Life: Throughout history, many individuals have faced martyrdom for their faith, choosing to die rather than renounce their beliefs or disobey what they perceived as God’s commands. This represents the ultimate cost of obedience, where even life itself is surrendered for the sake of faithfulness.
The concept of "everything" is subjective and depends on the individual’s circumstances and values. However, the core principle remains the same: prioritizing God’s will above all else, regardless of the personal sacrifices required. The willingness to pay this ultimate price demonstrates the depth and sincerity of one’s devotion. The perceived reward for this sacrifice varies by religious belief and can include eternal life, spiritual fulfillment, or a closer relationship with God.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before you today humbled and seeking understanding. We wrestle with the concept of obedience, particularly when it demands a price we can scarcely imagine. What does it truly mean for obeying you to cost everything?
Lord, we know that following you isn’t always easy. We read stories of prophets who were ostracized, of apostles who were persecuted, and of Jesus himself, who faced agonizing death for your will. We see that sometimes, obedience means sacrificing comfort, reputation, and even our own well-being.
But we also confess that we often cling to these things. We fear the loss of security, the judgment of others, the pain of letting go. We bargain and compromise, seeking a path of least resistance, a way to serve you without fully surrendering.
Help us, Lord, to understand that “everything” isn’t just about material possessions or worldly status. It’s about surrendering our pride, our ego, our self-will. It’s about laying down our carefully constructed plans and trusting in your perfect wisdom, even when we don’t understand the path ahead.
When obedience demands sacrifice, grant us the courage to choose you above all else. Give us the strength to relinquish what we hold dear, knowing that in losing everything for you, we ultimately gain everything in you. Remind us that true life is found not in clinging to what we have, but in freely giving it to you.
Help us to see that true obedience is not about grimly enduring suffering, but about joyfully embracing your will, trusting that your love and grace will sustain us through any hardship.
Give us the faith of those who have gone before us, who counted the cost and chose you, even when it meant sacrificing everything. May their example inspire us to live lives of radical obedience, lives that reflect your love and transform the world.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, who gave everything for us. Amen.
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