What Would You Give Up For Christ?

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE UP FOR CHRIST?

We see many teachings on the positive aspects of being a believer, a member of the body of Christ. Countless times we read of the things we gain from the promises of God to the born again believer. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, we are more than a conquer, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and the full list is extensive. Yet, Jesus Christ in his ministry on earth, taught us that as a result of following him we would experience loss in some of the aspects of our lives. There were also things that we, as disciples of Christ , would willingly give up in order to define our walk in Christ and maintain our relationship with God.

Stop and think, as a professed Christian and member of the body of Christ, what would you give up willingly for Christ? What would you willingly accept the loss of in regard to relationships (your family), social position (your friends), or profession? Would be able to withstand persecution and still maintain faithfulness to God and Christ? What would you give up to be perfected in the knowledge of the God's Word? Also to consider, what is the outcome for us who suffer such loss and what does God do in response to our sacrifices we at times must make in order to truely follow Christ.

There is found in Paul's letter to the Philippians a very strong and committed statement made by Paul to the Church. Paul said he counted all things in life to be worthless if they hindered his commitment to God, Jesus Christ, and being a true disciple.
"Philippians 3:7-8; "7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

The things that were gain to Paul were many. First in Acts 23:6, Paul declares the he was a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee (the ruling class of the jews). Paul was also a Roman by birth, highly educated according to the standards of the day in the law (having studied under Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, who had reputation among all the people Acts 22:3). Paul had prominence and recognition, position and power, he was zealous in the popular cause among the ruling class of the Jews in leading the persecution of the Church. Paul was not poor and in the acceptable standards of "the world," Paul had it made, a most popular and renowned fellow. Yet in the proper perspective of his relationship to God Paul made two startling statements. First, he said he would give up all things in order to gain the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord. And the most shocking statement of all, he suffered the loss of all these things and considered them "dung (shit - another 4 letter word for dung)" in order that he may win Christ.

This was not a new doctrine that Paul had developed, Paul knew that Jesus Christ in his ministry had taught this very same principle to the disciples. It is the things that we can not or are not unwilling to accept loss of, that will be things utilized by our adversary to stop us from being effective and victorious in our walk as members of the body of Christ.
Jesus in his teachings disclosed the follow to the disciples.
"Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."(see also Matthew 19:28, Luke 14:26)

FIRST AREA OF LOSS - FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Why did Jesus specify members of a believer's family as one of the things (as a follower of him) the believer would be subjected to the loss of? Jesus knew that one's own family, the ones that knew the full story of your life, would be used as tools by our adversary to discredit you, your ministry, or hold you back from following him. It is no new thing and is still an ongoing tactic of the Devil, to undermine the calling and purpose of God in believers lives today. All Christians were, prior to their being born again, sinners to some level of extent, and if focus could be directed at their past mistakes and short comings, it would effectively hinder their credibility as witnesses for Christ. To continue to allow family members who are on "the other side" to instill doubt in your mind of your calling by God and turn those around them into discrediting you as well would enable the Devil to stop your ability to witness with full power and even in some cases to stop your witness. Even the news media of the day, when looking for a means to discredit someone, goes to the family members to get the real scoop on who they really are (their past inadequacies, their past mistakes). If you might reach some point of public focus, you will find family who have not even bothered to speak with for many years will come out of the wood work to be experts on who you presently are. And as long as we allowed these hindering family members, utilizing us to gain their own form of glory and attention from whoever than can get the attention of, to be a controlling and influencing factor in our lives, we can not perform the function God has assigned to us in the body of Christ effectively. We have to be willing to give up "loose" members of our family in order to attain the goal of the high calling of Christ. Jesus specifically said that our greatest enemies would come from our own family (Matthew 10:36).
"Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. "
Jesus knew during his ministry that the Gospel would divide mankind. There would be one group who would believe, one group who would pretend to believe in order to continue functioning as the adversary's subtle tools, and one group who would openly and antagonistically oppose the Gospel in open rebellion against God and His Word. The Devil's main objective in his attack on any man or woman of God is to find the most credible accusers he can to discredit their teaching of God's Word. He looks for accusers because he is the primary accuser of God's people (Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.). What more effective means could there be than members of one's own family? Hence we see the reasoning behind Jesus Christ's teaching. In another record of this hendrence in our live being taught, a little more detail is given.
"Matthew 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."
Jesus also said to take no thought (don't premeditate) what you would say when they delivered you up to be persecuted, to be put to death for your stand for God and His Word. The promise from God is that He would give the words to speak in your defense...He would give you by revelation what you shall say, that it will not be you speaking it would the Spirit of God that speaks through you.

From the first position of merely having family members discrediting a believer's calling, progression to even the extreme of their delivering up their family members to die is not beyond possibility. Brothers and sisters and even your children would in some instances deliver you up to death for your belief. This is witnessed in modern time in the former Soviet Union and in Nazi Germany. The scripture Jesus quoted "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." is spoken out of the prophecies of Micah. Looking to this first revelation of this statement in prophecy we see the emergence of brethern and lands (brethern being members of community more than members of family)
"Micah 7:5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. 10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. 11 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed. 12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings."

Micah was well acquainted in this "giving up" loss. Friends and teachers (guides) and even close relationships (keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom) will be used against you by the adversary at times. Yet Micah knew that even though he should fall God would lift him up again, and when shut in darkness by his foes God would be a light to him. He knew that to give up or suffer loss would be turned to his victory by God. The same as Micah confessed is true for us today. As Paul taught in Romans, "Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ALL things, with no exception, will work to our good. This is the promise from God to us. Jesus said that in the painfull loss of beloved family members for his sake we would receive 100 fold in this present time and eternal life to come. Jesus himself actually illustrated the truth of this statement by example, during his teaching the disciples as illustrated in the following scripture.
"Luke 8:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. _Matthew 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
"Luke 8:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."

Jesus' loving family, his mother and his brethern, just had to get in on the action. They could not get to him because of the press (crowd - of course today when some family members get involved the reporters might be too thick to get through too).They had to make the grand enterance to capture his attention (and others attention as well), not to mention interrupting his teaching and demanded that they see him post haste. Jesus had a reaction that was astounding to the disciples since the law clearly stated to honor your mother and father. He put his own family in place by making the following statement, a statement that showed that we have more family in this world than our parents, siblings, and blood relatives. Jesus look around him at the disciples and asked them who is my mother, who is my brethern (family members)? He then dismissed their relivance by saying that whoever does the will of God his Father in Heaven was his mother, brother, and sister. When we become born again and become followers of Christ we literally obtain thousands and millions of family members to relate to.

THE SECOND AREA - LOSS OF HOUSE AND LAND
Perhaps one of the hardest of losses to part with in our materialistic society, as was true in the day and times of Jesus Christ, was giving up material possessions that were a henderence to our effective working of our calling and placement in the body of Christ by God. Not all callings of God enable us to just sit in one place and just be a go to church on Sunday as a weekend Christian. And, there are some material possessions that to some are a hindering factor in their lives. It is the "things" we possess, the things we can not let go of, that are some of the most powerful negative influences in our lives. When we place a higher value on things and accumulating things over serving God's call and God's people (our fellow believers), we have exaulted these material things to a stature in our lives where they are the controling factor and have disconnected from God the real control factor in our lives.

"Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
Jesus said that whoever was not willing to forsake all that he had and bear the burden (cross) of the ministry of the Gospel could not be his disciple.

Jesus illustrates this in the following exchange with a rich youg man.
"Matthew 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
"Mark 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."
Let us note, this young man's intentions were admirable. Like many of us today, he wanted to follow Christ. There was one extenuating circumstance in his life that was the decisive factor in his personal defeat in establishing a true realtionship with the Savior, things and possessions to the point of wealth. This young man had walked the law God since his youth and knew the scripture, he in his own eyes was a true disciple, yet he realized that there was some inadequacy in his life and felt prompted to ask Jesus what was he lacked. The account in Mark says Jesus looked upon him with love and told him the answer he sought. Jesus told him to go and sell everything he possessed, give to the poor (did not say give away everthing hed had to the poor), take up the cross (walk as Jesus did) and follow him (Jesus). Well defeat has a sorrow that attends it because the young man was sad and went away in grief. Why? He could not part with his precious possession and follow Christ. His material things counted more to him than his own salvation. The reason Jesus instructed him to take this action was twofold. One, in order to serve Christ and God we have to be able to "travel" light. Should our calling be to be a missionary or a traveling evangelists, having to leave the comfort of our luxurious home and prestegious professional possision and wonderful things we had spent great time and effort to gather for our own enjoyment, to many it would be too much to bear. The love of material things (an idol if positioned over the call of God) is a great force in life that is reenforced by all of the brain washing we encounter today in the media advertising. The drive is to get more and more stuff, better stuff than your friends, the drive to amass more and more wealth, the drive that drives a wedge of separation between us and God. In other words, what you can not give up for God is more of a god in your life than God Himself and Jesus knew this which is why he tested the young man with his statement.

The pull against our following through on our commitment to serve God was recorded in another instance with three other disciples. The first Jesus told that if he followed him he would be homeless. The second had family matters that to him took precedent, he had to take care of things at home and then he would follow Jesus. Jesus told him that once setting out on the mission to teach the Gospel, there was no opportunity for looking back if you were to be fit for the Kingdom. After these following verses is the record where Jesus commissioned the 70 disciple he sent out to prepair his way in the cities he would soon be going to.
"Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

In the Old Testament, giving up what was precious was a proof of commitment and faith in God. As in the case of Abraham. He was willing to give up his only son to show his loyalty and devotion to God. Even today God proves us by the things we do not let come before Him.
"Genesis 22:1-2, 7-12: "1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

Are you willing to give up your "time" to study God's Word. We spend countless hours at home watching TV or surfing the Internet and most would find it hard to actually count the amount of time they give (loose from time to watch TV) to study God's Word. Yet...this one of the few things the Word says we gain God's approval from.
"2 Timothy 2:15; "15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Giving of our lives for the sake of the Gospel if necessary would be the strongest test of our faith. There are not many who hold their walk in Christ Jesus to that point. Jesus used this very situation as an example of suffering loss as a means to attain eternal life. He then says of those who are too "embarased" to boldly speak the Gospel that he, Christ Jesus, when he returns the second coming will of that person be ashamed in the presence of God his father, and the angels.
"Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."

Would you be able to loose the acceptance and favor of the world? Would you be willing to suffer at the hands and mouths of unbelievers in the world, who are motivated highly by our adversary the Devil, persecution and ridicule and even physical harm for staying true to God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Would you be able to stand strong in a place of major confrontation by the darkness of this World? If you believe God's commitment and promises of protection and deliverance you will. Jesus told the disciples to anticipate persecution as one of the losses to be encountered. Are willing to be unpopular according to the world's standard of acceptance?
"John 15:18-20; "18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
"1 John 3:11-13; "11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."

In summation, the worldly things we are to be willing to give up (beside worldly possessions and hindering friends and hindering family members) inculde worldly behavior, actions, and destructive desires that are contrary to the will of God.
"Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

When we have put off the "old man" that was our former life, we become transformed through the knowledge of the Gospel as we apply it in our lives. We are no longer the same people our old friends in the past have know, we are truely new men and women. We are justified by God and scantified and redeemed and have the remission (forgiveness) of sins and have had the ministry of reconciliation committed to us. We are renewed (reformed) in the spirit of our mind. We must not let the accusers of the world stop us in our race to attain the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus our Lord. We must not let the love of material things freeze us into inaction. The commission Jesus Christ gave to the believers just before his ascension, to go and preach the Gospel to the world, did not have a clause in it that said if you have great or many possessions you were excluded from the responsibility of being a disciple. And, it is for certain that we are told that whatever we loose as the result of taking a stand for the Word of God, the Gospel of our salvation, God WILL replace our loss 100 times greater than our loss in our present life on earth and we will obtain rewards in heaven as well.