Not long ago, a friend of mine said to me, “I’m really struggling with the need to give up what’s good in life in order to be more spiritual. I’ve built a successful business. I have a loving family and beautiful home. I have lots of friends, and my kids are going to great schools. I don’t get why I should have to let go of all of that if I want to be more spiritual. I like my life!”
My friend had just voiced what many Christians probably have keenly felt at one time or another in their lives—including even Christ Jesus’ own disciples. For instance, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, along with James and John, pointedly telling them, “Follow me” (see Matthew 4:18–22). But for them to do so meant leaving their family fishing trades. Also, Levi had to resign a lucrative professional position as a tax collector (see Mark 2:14), and Jesus told another disciple to entrust the burial of his father to others (see Matthew 8:21, 22).
Given what the Master’s disciples left behind to follow the Christ, it’s easy to see why my friend was pushing back at this idea. Peter himself protested: “We have left all that we ever had and followed you.”
