What does it take to be a Christ-follower?
It takes all we have. We can not buy our salvation, or earn it. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. We can't receive it on our works but salvation is by God alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The cool thing is that faith alone is faith in all that God offers, His salvation, His protection, His Righteousness. We must have faith in all of God, not our works, our savings, or even our president. Our faith and trust must be in Him, He must be our treasure (Matthew 6:21). When we put our trust in money or our businesses we fall into the same trap as the rich man who asked Jesus how to be saved, Jesus responded by saying, Mark 10:21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
When we put our faith in God we must put all our faith in all of God not part. All must be God's. Yes, you may be a good man, but what is your treasure? We must do what Jesus told the young rich man to do. What are you giving up to follow God, or what are you not giving up? God must come first and everything else second.