Luke 9:57-62
I think we live in a world that likes to hedge its bets. Some young adults (I have heard this with my own ears) talk about how crazy it is to get married without a prenuptial agreement. The thought of making an “all-in” commitment is ludicrous. Others will make a commitment to this or that and intend to keep it unless something better comes along. When it does, they bounce. In sports, you can bet on both teams. Even in the stock market, you can short the same stock you are holding with the intention of selling it at a higher price. In the language of today’s text, our culture seems to value the ability to “put your hand to the plow” while “looking back,” ostensibly to make sure something better isn’t coming along.
But this approach doesn’t work in the Kingdom. Why? First, nothing we would “look back” on would even come close to being as valuable as the Kingdom of God! (See Jesus’ Parables in Matthew 13:44-46) So it would be kind of dumb to turn down something infinitely more valuable than what we have just to hold on to what we have. Yet people do it all the time.
Second, a commitment to the kingdom of God can be a costly one while we still live in this world. Jesus knows and models this. I recall a wise pastor who mentored me when I was considering vocational ministry. He told me to be very sure about pastoral work because it isn’t always an easy life. He was right, as the first church I served in after seminary went through a nasty, divisive split. Had I not been sure of my calling and commitment to that calling, I might have been tempted to hang up my spikes.
When Jesus calls us to follow Him, not only is He calling us to live in the most valuable realm there ever will be, but He is also calling us to make a full commitment to Him because He knows that anything less will jeopardize our effectiveness and usefulness (which in turn affects His glory and our joy). So, while Jesus’ teaching may seem a bit intense and heartless, it really isn’t because He is fully aware of the costs and rewards of following Him and living in His Kingdom.
Scott Smith
Care Pastor