In today’s world and in my opinion, it seems as though the word disciple is being flaunted as a bait word to attract a lot of fish. And yet my conclusion of what I see is that a lot of churches consider going to church, taking discipleship classes, maybe doing some community service, etc. as a way to become a disciple. It’s almost like to become a disciple, it’s okay to have your cake and eat it too. It’s like they’re all saying, Luke 14:33 doesn’t really mean what it says.
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
Is this to be taken literally or spiritually? For many years now I’ve long desired (spiritually) to be a “true disciple” but don’t consider myself one because I have not denounced all that I have (physically). And I get so frustrated when I hear Pastors, in particular, saying that “we will make disciples out of you” and yet, the church goes on as it always has. Please help as my prayer is to be able to really share the real Truth in this matter with others.
I don’t believe that Jesus requires a vow of poverty from everyone who wants to be His disciple. What He wants is that there be nothing more important in our lives than Him. The Bible contains numerous examples of people who were well off and yet were faithful followers of God. Psalm 37:4 says that when we delight ourselves in the Lord He’ll give us the desires of our heart. And Jesus said that He came so that we could have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). It’s when our quest for material wealth preoccupies us or becomes the true source of our security or even an object of worship that we get into trouble.