Worth Considering…A Thought for Today Putting Hand to Plow “Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ ” – Luke 9:61-62 (ESV) [Read Luke 9:57-62]. Yesterday we considered how Jesus steadfastly set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing that the time was drawing near for His passion, the arrest, trial crucifixion and cruel death on the cross. Yet He faced it all with determination, His purpose for coming to earth paramount in His mind. Luke records immediately after that strong statement that, as He and His disciples were “going along the road,” one approached Him saying, “I will follow You wherever you go” (v. 57). Jesus’ response was the often-quoted reply: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (v. 58). There is no indication the person followed Jesus; the uncertainty of the journey loomed too large. Self-comforts pulled him backward to the routine and known paths. Then Jesus Himself invited another, saying, “Follow me.” That person wanted to delay following the Lord, saying he desired first to ‘go bury my father.’ Was the father then lying a corpse awaiting burial? Not likely; not in hot, Palestine, when interment usually happened soon after death. He wanted time to “do other things” and then he would consider following Jesus. The implication is that he wanted to do other things first. His choice was conditioned by his priorities. Although Jesus’ answer to the person may seem a bit heartless to us who think looking after parents’ needs is a worthy pursuit and one of the ten commandments, Jesus was looking at the heart—and the purposes—of this man. To follow Jesus means to “take upone’s cross daily and follow Him” (Matthew 10:38). The “dead” burying their dead indicates a strong emphasis on those who are “spiritually” dead. It takes a real commitment to follow Jesus. His response in no way indicates that followers of Jesus are to abandon their family responsibilities. When they do obey the commandment, it is out of obedience to the Lord and love for Him, not instead of allegiance to Him. Likewise, to the third He invited to discipleship, He had the business of saying farewell to those at his home whom he would leave behind. Jesus’ response to this person who wanted to wait until some more convenient time, “No one who sets his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Here Jesus was indicating the depth of commitment and discipleship which takes precedence over all else. Having grown up on a farm I know something of what Jesus meant by His agricultural reference: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (v. 62). One handling the plow must keep his eyes steadfastly on the job of plowing, following the concourse of the land, else he will veer and do a very poor job of plowing, or laying off rows for planting. Furthermore, it indicates with what diligence a farmer must stay at the task to hope for any reasonable harvest. Likewise, in the spiritual walk with Jesus, it is a matter of placing priority on the importance of following Him and being faithful and committed to His way. These three “would-be” disciples allowed their excuses to prevent them from commiting to Jesus. They lacked the spiritual essentials of choice, love, power and determination to follow Jesus wholly. And He requires our full commitment. Furthermore, when we take that first step toward commitment to Him, He enables us to hold out. 2 Timothy 2:9 declares: “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” That’s how we, like the faithful farmer, can do whatever is necessary to produce a spiritual crop, to hold out in our commitment to Jesus through whatever comes. Like Jesus, we “set our face steadfastly” to whatever is our Jerusalem, or our “field to plow.” And moreover, we depend on the spirit of love and self-control God gives us for the journey, not returning again to fear and cowering. Holding on to God means success for us on the journey! Selah! -Ethelene Dyer Jones 04.05.2014.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 12:05:52 +0000