Why don't more people live "sold out" lives for Jesus? I think it is because we have convinced that Christianity is a plan for a "better life". We tell people, after you have tried the rest, try the best. You'll get freedom and peace, health, wealth and fulfillment. The problem is that there is no need to "sell out" to that kind of plan. If your life is going well, then the salvation plan is working out for you and there is no reason to do anything different. If trouble hits, then you hunker down and lay aside everything while you wait to be delivered. You can't be expected to reach out to others until you get your answer. Then when you get your answer, you can go back to living your "blessed" life.
These days we have no notion of the Christian life being a life of affliction. When Saul (soon to be renamed Paul) was converted, Jesus didn't call him to live a life of ease and favor. Jesus told Ananias that we wanted to reveal to Saul how much he would have to suffer because of the call of Jesus on his life. (Acts 9:16) Paul was called from a life of prosperity and respect as a leader in the church. He was called to a life of beatings, inprisonment, shipwreck and derision. The man responsible for writing much of the New Testament never discovered the secret of "How To Get Rich and Have Everthing You Ever Wanted". Paul's life of favor began for him at the end of this life. His mantra was that to live is Christ and to die is gain. He did not live among the living, trying not to die. He lived among the dying, while encouraging them to life.
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