Every business needs a market strategy; how to get people interested in the products or services, and how to ensure they recommend them to other people.  Good traders do not turn business away or advertise the disadvantages of their products.  Jesus was not running that kind of business.  His work was to die to save believers from God’s wrath (Mark 8:31), and to prepare apostles to share the gospel message (Acts 4:20).  On this occasion, when many came to see what Jesus would say or do next, He told the disciples to get ready to sail away some five or six miles across Lake Galilee to an uninhabited area.    

A rabbi was so impressed with what Jesus was teaching that he volunteered to give up his work in the synagogue to follow Jesus.  But Jesus told him that the gospel lifestyle would not be so comfortable, there would be no settled salary or home.  Another person was keen to follow Jesus - after his elderly parents had died. Jesus was abrupt, telling him to get a grip on gospel priorities; the training opportunity of being with Jesus would soon be over; the young man had a choice to make (Matthew 16:24-26).

Biographies of gospel hearted people often tell of the hardship, poverty, opposition and the need to take tough decisions - even at the cost of not being able to provide comfortably for their families.  Of course, using the gospel as an excuse to refuse to care for family is wrong (Mark 7:9-13; 1 Timothy 5:8), as is ignoring the vulnerable (James 1:27).  But Jesus never promised comfort, wealth or an easy child-focussed family life.  Jesus said that gospel priorities demanded personal and family sacrifice, usually without the applause of any crowd.  

The kind of life we live is often conditioned by our upbringing and the values our parents taught us.  We construct our life-choices with personal ego and desire for approval by others, and our personal and family financial ambitions.  We may prioritise the level of comfort we think we deserve, and the people, money and things which we think will make us more powerful.  The question to ask, in the light of our limited lifespan (when we will leave this world with nothing), is: ‘How should I shape my lifestyle with gospel priorities, so that when I meet the Lord, He will be pleased?’  That is a big question which few dare to ask.  But we must ask it, and live out the Christ-like answers, if we are to be His disciples.