Self-renunciation is an indispensable condition of following Christ, requiring us to count the true cost of allegiance to Him. This full and selfless service to God demands our hearts and minds, not just our bodies. In Luke 14:25-33, two parables and an exhortation urge us to forsake all that we have as a mandatory condition to becoming Christ's disciples, emphasizing the nature and influence of true discipleship. Loyalty to Jesus Christ and God the Father must be above even the highest loyalties of earthly love, subordinating all our love of self to our love for God, who must be first in our life. The discipleship to which Christ calls us means a life of surrender to God's will and sacrifice for His cause. If we count the cost of full submission to Christ's claim on us, we must also count on His grace and help to become one with Him. His disciples do not make the journey to His Kingdom for free; it costs them their lives. In the parable of the tower-builder in Luke 14:28-30, Christ teaches that before entering God's way of life, we should estimate the cost, recognizing that the truth is a costly thing and yet worth it. A builder who does not count the cost before laying the foundation is humiliated as a disgraceful failure, and failure to count the cost of following Christ results in an incomplete life. The parable of a king going to war in Luke 14:31-32 continues this theme, illustrating that both must count the cost. The king must estimate men's lives, money, and equipment, knowing he needs resolve and fortitude to enter the battle. As King, Jesus must choose the right people for the battle, those who will listen and obey with determination, testing their quality for such an important task. In preparation to be kings in the Kingdom, the saints must also count the cost of their lives, entering upon religious dedication with good advice and willingness to triumph over powerful enemies through perseverance, endurance, willpower, and sacrifice. Christ teaches in Luke 14:33 that discipleship must include planning and sacrifice, instructing that before a person begins to build, he should be sure he is willing and able to pay the full cost of the project. Similarly, His followers must be sure they are willing to pay the full price of discipleship, sacrificing pleasures, distractions, material possessions, and even family if they prevent us from serving God. In this war against powerful enemies, we must be willing to count the cost and to sacrifice, exercising self-control to overcome them with the help of the Spirit of our King.