Counting the Cost

“To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Paul represents the most surrendered of us, completely willing to lay down his life for the gospel. But for us in a modern world, living in a country that allows us to practice our faith freely, what does laying down one’s life look like?

The simple in answer, in my experience, is something intangible yet pervasively present: my will. How I get things done, why I want them, and the timeline in which they occur. Achievements, attention, accolades. The image I present to the world. Jobs I overextend for, titles I strive for, relationships I perform for. All connected by the singular thread of my will—the pull of passion. 

The problem with allowing your will to guide your choices is that it relies on mortal logic, with eyes that can only see the present and tangible things. The will is driven by feelings and evidence, while the Christian walk is driven by sacrifice and faith. Oftentimes, God will tell you to walk confidently in the direction of your calling with no map or compass. He’ll ask you to give up good things. He’ll prune relationships you’re not done with, ask you to move on a whim, or use you as a vessel for someone else’s blessing while you’re still waiting for yours. 

The cost of sacrifice is counted primarily in the mundane; the creed to bite your tongue, pray for the coworker that constantly provokes you, love the spouse that is neglecting your needs, and give your last $20 to the tithe require the will—that pesky contesting voice that wants you to lean on your senses—to die. 

While the flesh fights it, surrendering your will to God results in the best possible outcome, every single time. 

-Written by Christy Bradley