Decision Making 101
Keith McFarren
August  16, 2026
Luke 14: 25-35
    Alexander the Great was a
Greek king who created one of the largest dynasties in ancient history.  As a warrior he was undefeated in battle and
as a leader he will always be remembered for his tactical ability and his military
victories.  Even today, military
academies throughout the world continue to teach both his tactical and
leadership abilities.
   There is a story
that tells of Alexander the Great and his army approaching a city surrounded by
a tall, strongly fortified wall.
Alexander approached the city, asked to speak to the king, and in doing
so began to set down terms for the city’s surrender.  The opposing king laughed at Alexander and
told him that they weren’t afraid of him or his army and that they could
withstand any attack brought against them.
    In response to
that, Alexander offered to give the opposing king a demonstration.  Behind him some of his men were lined up on a
cliff overlooking the city.  Alexander
looked up, ordered his men to line up in single file, and when he gave the
order they began to march towards the edge of the cliff…and they marched and
they marched with each man eventually marching off the edge of the cliff and
falling to his death.  
    The opposing king
couldn’t believe his eyes and suddenly realized that with a commitment like,
nothing, including any of their own resources, could defend against the loyalty
and commitment that Alexander demanded from his army.  With that, the gates were opened and the city
immediately surrendered.
    Now I’m not sure
if this was a true story or not but it leaves no doubt in our minds about the
commitment and the loyalty that Alexander the Great demanded from his
followers.  It leaves no doubt that his
men were willing to die not only for him…but for his cause as well.
    That’s how it was
in the 1st century and that’s how it is today.  Jesus demands loyalty.  He demands a commitment from his
followers.  He’s realistic and
straightforward and always upfront about what it means and what it may cost to
be one of his followers.  
    He’s not like the
advertisements you see on TV that tell about how good this medicine is for you
and then after building it up tells you all about the terrible side effects
that go along with it.  He’s not like the
advertisements that push this product or that product and tell you what a good
deal you’re getting and then you read the fine print below to find out all the
hidden costs and charges.  
    Jesus wants you to know…that’s
why he was always up front about everything he did.  For Jesus it is always “buyer beware!”
    He knew it would
be tough and he knew it would be hard and he wanted to make sure that those who
followed him knew exactly what was required of them.  He wanted people with a 100%
commitment…people who were willing to let the “chips fall” where they may…even
if that included dying for him.
   Luke tells us this
morning that there were great crowds of people following Jesus.  He had become like a modern day rock
star.  He performed miracles…he raised
the dead…and there were those who thought he had come to deliver them from the
Roman Empire.  Who wouldn’t want to
follow someone like that?  
    Follow Jesus and
he’ll solve all of our problems.
Physically they were all behind him 100%.  But what about spiritually? How many of them
were on their way to Jerusalem with him “spiritually”?
   That’s why he’s so
adamant about discipleship.  Because he
knows that there are people who say they are disciples but deep down inside,
they aren’t 100% committed to his program.
They dress the part and they talk the part, but they’re “tag alongs” or
in modern day terms they are like “groupies” or “posers” or “wannabe’s.”  
    On the outside
they all want to “look” like they’re a part of the group but deep down inside,
way down in here (heart) they aren’t willing to make a spiritual
commitment.  They aren’t willing to do
what it takes to really “be” a part of the group.  
    Many years ago I
had a friend who wanted to go into the ministry.  Over a number of years, he went before his
Staff Parish Committee four times to receive their blessing to go forward to
work towards becoming a candidate for ordained ministry.  He wanted to preach.  He wanted to have his own church someday, but
he wasn’t willing to do what it takes to reach his goal.
    He wasn’t willing
to go through the candidacy process like everyone else.  He wasn’t willing to make the commitment to
read and to study.  He wasn’t willing to
make the commitment go to school.  He
wasn’t willing to make a commitment to God.
    To be a disciple
of Jesus requires a commitment.  It
requires making some decisions.  It
requires making some choices.  It
requires looking at our values and changing them.  It requires giving up some things…maybe some
power, some prestige and even some of our friends.  It requires living a different lifestyle than
what we might be used to living.
    In 1st
century Israel, a disciple was a student who followed around a teacher or a
rabbi to learn about their religious skills and knowledge.  He went through a process of training and
testing with his mentor and the mentor was supposed to teach them everything he
knew.  But the pupil’s ultimate loyalty
was not to be toward his teacher.  The
pupil’s ultimate loyalty was to the Torah and to Jewish tradition.
    But along comes
Jesus and turns everything upside down.
To become a disciple of Jesus one no longer was required to focus on the
Torah or on the Jewish tradition.
Instead, the focus and the loyalty was to be entirely on the teacher…the
focus and the loyalty was to be on Jesus…to be like Jesus.  
    To be a member of
Jesus’ team requires that one binds himself or one adheres himself or one
entwines himself with Jesus.  
    Jesus requires a
loyalty that goes over and above…a loyalty that is greater than…a loyalty that
transcends all human relationships.
Loyalty to Jesus comes down to this:
Jesus must be first in my life…and I must love no one or no thing
more than I love him.
    Now don’t
misunderstand.  Families are good and
families are important and the older we get the more we understand that they
represent the very best life has to offer.

    But no relationship, no
matter how wonderful, no matter how exciting, must compete or take precedence
over our relationship with God.  Jesus
leads the way…and everything and everyone follows.
    One other thing
Jesus tells us: “ if you are not willing to give up everything you have, you
cannot be my disciple” (My words).  
Discipleship not only makes demands of our personal relationships but it
also makes demands on our personal possessions.

    I am to give up
everything I have.  Give it up…not
Give it away.  There’s a
difference.  Jesus isn’t asking me to
“give away” my home or my car or my money or even my family.  Instead he’s saying that I have to “give
them up.”
    I must spiritually
sign my family, my home, my car, my finances and all my property and
possessions over to God.  I must “give
up ownership” of everything I have.
    In other words, nothing
comes before him.  I must relinquish
authority over all my relationships, over all my property, my finances and over
all my resources.  All that I have and
all that I am is to be “spiritually turned over to God” to be used in whatever
way he feels necessary for the completion of my mission for the kingdom of God.

    Count the cost of
being a disciple of Jesus Christ before you decide to join the team.  It all sounds good…but giving it all up to
God is a very difficult, very costly act especially for those of who love power
and prestige and all of the “stuff” we’ve accumulated and cherished during our
lifetime.
    It happened some
twenty years ago in Afghanistan.  “The
first sign of danger was the crackle of gunfire over their heads.  Ten gunmen, their faces covered, rushed
toward the terrified Christian humanitarian workers and began shouting
“Satellite! Satellite! – a demand meaning that they should surrender their cell
phones.  
    Moments later, 10
of the humanitarian workers lay dead, including two women hiding in the back
seat of a car the attackers through a grenade into.
    It’s the first
detailed narrative of the slaying of 6 Americans, 2 Afghans, one German and a
Brit in remote northern Afghanistan.
They were ambushed and shot after journeying about 100 miles – much of
it on foot and horseback – through the Hindu Kush mountains, giving free eye
care and other medical care to the impoverished villagers”.
    “Tom Little was an
optometrist from Delmar, New York, who had lived and worked in Afghanistan
since the late 1970’s.  Little was
familiar with the dangers of Afghanistan, but yet went all over the country
providing free eye care to the poor and to the needy.  He cared so much about the Afghan people that
he moved his entire family there many years ago and raised his children among
those he wanted to help so badly.”
    “When the attack
came a gunman struck Little in the head with the back of an AK-47 assault
rifle.  He fell to the ground bleeding
and when he tried to get up, the attackers fatally shot him.  Two of three female members of the team had
jumped inside an SUV to hide.  The
attackers tossed a grenade inside the vehicle, killing both of them.  Then, one by one, they killed the rest of the
group.
    The Taliban said
they carried out their attack because the team members were spying and
proselytizing…that is, trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.
     Jesus said “You
cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.” (v.
27)  
It’s called commitment to a
cause.  Being willing to do whatever it
takes to get the job done.  That’s what
the 10 medical missionaries who were murdered in Afghanistan a number of years
ago by the Taliban were all about.
Dedication.  Loyalty.  Compassion.
Service.  It was about being
willing to carry their cross.  
    They made a
commitment to God to care for and to serve the Afghan people…living there among
them…many of them living there for over 20 years, raising their families
there…trying to make a difference…serving as the hands and feet and the eyes
and the ears of Jesus…no matter what the cost…and, unfortunately, it cost them
their lives.
    The cost of discipleship
can be paid for in many different ways.
For some people, it’s the cost of redirecting their time and their  energy…for others it’s about a change in
life’s priorities and in personal relationships…maybe a change of vocation…or
maybe a recommitment of our financial resources…or perhaps dying, if
necessary.  That’s because discipleship
is all consuming.
    It’s all about
Jesus.  It’s a full time job.  Part-time disciples need not apply…and no
partial commitments will ever be accepted.
It’s all set aside; it’s all given away for the kingdom of God.