And nwhoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For owhich of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you pdoes not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
34 q“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the 7dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Lk 14:27-35


It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72 mThe law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver." Ps 119:71-72


7 But mwhat things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss nfor the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having omy own righteousness, which is from the law, but pthat which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the qpower of His resurrection, and rthe fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may sattain 2to the resurrection from the dead." Php 3:7-11


12 Not that I have already tattained, 3or am already uperfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have 4apprehended; but one thing I do, vforgetting those things which are behind and wreaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 xI press toward the goal for the prize of ythe upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Php 3:12-14


44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and nsells all that he has and obuys that field.
Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found pone pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Mt 13:44-46


Thus says the Lord:
e“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his fmight,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
24 But glet him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, 1judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
hFor in these I delight,” says the Lord." Je 9:23-24