Key Verse: Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to those at my house.” But 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 CSB)
It seems reasonable to expect if you are going away somewhere for an extended period of time that the considerate thing to do is to say goodbye to those whom you are leaving behind. It’s why people throw going-away parties.
With that in mind, the response to Jesus to the third man that He encounters on the road to Jerusalem seems a little strange. Here was a man committing himself to follow Jesus. He too wanted to be a disciple of the Lord. But like the others, there was something that he wanted to take care of first. He wanted to say goodbye to those at his home.
But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”. What exactly is Jesus talking about here? Jesus saw the heart of this man and so He used a common first-century picture of plowing a field to make a point. A farmer who is attempting to plow straight lines in a field but who keeps looking behind him is not going to be very effective. It will likely turn into a bit of a mess.
In the same way, the effectiveness of a person who wants to follow Jesus and be used by God in His kingdom has a lot to do with his or her ability to stay focused and to not get distracted. His eyes must be fixed on what is before him.
For this man that Jesus encountered, it wasn’t simply a matter of him wanting to be courteous or well mannered. There was something else going on. The issue here was one of focus, of attentiveness, of devotion. Jesus knew that in this man’s case, his devotion to his family would distract him and prevent him being effective in following Jesus. And so Jesus called him to a single-minded devotion.
What are the things that tend to take you off course and keep you from a single-minded devotion to the Lord? Is it whatever is in your past? Is it all that is happening in your life right now? Is it all the unknowns of tomorrow?
Invite the Spirit to renew and sharpen your focus again today on Jesus. Ask Him to help you to be someone who is keeping their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Prayer: God, I want to be useful to you for the kingdom of God. Help me to not be distracted or to lose focus on what is most important. Turn my gaze upward to you and away from anything that would hinder my effectiveness today. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
