The Cost of Discipleship

The essence of prayer is fundamentally challenged, examined, and redefined as a practice deeply intertwined with one’s discipleship to Christ. Prayer is not a simple or natural act but an act of faith that can only be genuine when the individual is in fellowship with Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who mediates between the individual and God, and through Him, prayer takes on a boundless confidence and joyous certainty. True prayer is devoid of self-display or public spectacle; its purity resides in its hiddenness. Furthermore, prayer is not about the quantity of words or premeditated thoughts but the quality of faith. Faith eliminates the need for planning what to ask from God, as God already knows one’s needs. True prayer, then, is an antithesis to self-display and is focused solely on God. Even the words used in prayer are not as important as the faith behind them. The Lord’s Prayer is the quintessence of all prayers, focusing on God’s name, kingdom, and will. The ultimate power and assurance in prayer lie in the forgiveness of sins and the fellowship it brings among believers.

The aim of religious customs like fasting is to prepare believers for service to God by disciplining the self. Such self-control cultivates a life of “self-renunciation,” contrasting it sharply with worldly desires. Practicing these customs for outward show is warned against, cautioning that the true “rebelliousness and perennial pride of the flesh” (170) can only be mortified by faith in Jesus Christ. Moreover, there’s a danger in considering asceticism as a stand-in for the suffering of Christ. What could become a “dreadful parody” must be rooted in humility and “unselfconscious” service to God, not as a rule enforced on others. The hidden practices of humility and discipline are not for public display but are intended for spiritual growth and deeper service to God: “The life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh” (171). This struggle should not become a “pious but godless ambition” (171) but must serve the greater purpose of spiritual readiness and devotion.

True devotion to a spiritual path, symbolized by having a “single eye,” demands full attention and elimination of distractions, whether material possessions or personal piety. A lapse in focus can result in spiritual “darkness,” indicating a compromised relationship with the divine. Accumulating earthly goods, rather than utilizing them for immediate needs, is considered a form of idolatry, obstructing the individual’s connection with a higher power. The guiding principle here is to prioritize spiritual growth, as articulated by the maxim “seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness” (177). Following this principle mitigates anxiety originating from material attachments and ensures that physical needs will be provided for as a byproduct of this spiritual focus.

Similarly, the concept of anxiety linked to material possessions and future uncertainties is challenged. This anxiety generates more uncertainty and contradicts the primary role of possessions, which is to fulfill immediate needs. Assurance and tranquility are achieved by focusing on the present and entrusting future needs to divine providence. Using examples from nature, the argument discredits the notion that human efforts can solely secure daily sustenance. Instead, it is suggested that such sustenance is a divine gift. Emphasizing the spiritual journey over material concerns aligns individuals with divine purpose and assures them that their needs will be met.