Single Minded Obedience

Man, I've been missing out. I read an excerpt from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship and was blown away by it! Have you ever considered the concept of "costly grace" versus "cheap grace"? It won't leave my head alone!!

Here is the concept, in case you aren't familiar with it: Cheap grace says that I don't have to do anything for God. God saved me and gave me His grace, and that is all I need. Costly grace, however, says that I am called to serve and give of myself because Christ gave himself up for me. This is evidenced by what Bonhoeffer calls "Single Minded Obedience". This is when we obey completely and not look for loopholes in God's call.

For his example, which I will borrow, Bonhoeffer used the Rich Young Ruler from Scripture. This man asked what he had to do in order to inherit eternal life, and Jesus replied that he must adhere to and keep the commandments, which the man had done. Jesus also adds that he must sell all that he has and give the money to the poor. At this command, the young man turns away from Jesus and goes away in sorrow because he was attached to what he had and couldn't get rid of it.

Bonhoeffer argued that, today, most of us would look for a way to hang on to our stuff and still "obey". He said that we would try to detach ourselves from our possessions, and believe that was all God was commanding. We are, however, called to a strict obedience. We cannot half-heartedly obey. What was Christ actually commanding this young man to do? He asked this man to leave all his comforts and get rid of anything that might keep him from following Christ whole-heartedly. Christ gave the man the opportunity to believe, and obey, but the young man couldn't do so.

If you remember, this was the same command he gave to Peter and Levi when he called them. Peter, a fisherman, was called to leave his nets and boats (in actuality, his entire livelihood) and follow Christ, knowing not where he would sleep each night or if he would even eat every day. Levi, a tax collector, was, likewise, called to leave his table and follow Christ. These men, though probably not rich, still left everything they had and didn't return to their former lives. They were given the opportunity to trust in Jesus, and though they only knew Him by what they saw (possibly rabbi's robes), they followed without delay.

That is the kind of obedience God desires from us. Obedience without delay and without compromise. Peter and Levi definitely didn't starve, and God provided for them. If God calls us to do something, He will provide. I've seen it happen, and still I'm hesitant. Why do we find it so hard to obey so completely? Why does it stretch our faith so much to trust God? He hasn't failed anyone, anywhere...ever. Why would we be any different?