DILIGENT HANDS IN SERVICE (1)

“No one, having put his HAND to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" – Luke 9:62b

DILIGENT HANDS in SERVICE are indispensable Kingdom prerequisites: "But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his HAND to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Lk.9:62). Diligence in Service is a crucial part of the Cost of Commitment and Discipleship. Here, Jesus was replying to a potential disciple's excuse: “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house" (v.61). He wanted to be excused to first go back and say goodbye to his family! Jesus' inference was that if he returned to “say goodbye” to his family, he may have second thoughts and quit disgracefully. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with bidding farewell to one’s family, but Jesus discerned in this and the preceding excuses, halfhearted attempts to follow Him on terms of convenience rather than diligence.

In this section, Jesus addressed those who had made excuses as to why they must delay following Him. Like these early disciples, we often step out in commitment before we count the full cost (Lk.4:28). Our Lord demands our commitment. But He also wants us to fully understand what that means, including the need for diligence. Here, Jesus teaches about the costs of making and keeping commitments to God, namely:

The Cost of Personal Comfort (vv. 57-58)

An unnamed disciple had a commendable desire in mind: to “follow (Jesus) wherever” He went, which is exactly what He commands each of us to do (Mt.4:19; Lk.9:23; Jh.10: 27-28). But this desire is not only very costly; it's a challenge to our comfort! We are called to always choose obedience to the Lord over our convenience and comfort.

The Cost of Personal Security (vv.59-60)

Jesus called the would-be disciple to follow Him, but he requested to be permitted to first go bury his father. On the surface, his request seemed normal and necessary, but Jesus' response, to let the dead bury their dead, seemed harsh. However, based on the customs and culture of the day, it is apparent that the young man’s father was not dead and awaiting burial. Rather, he had employed a common saying which in essence meant, “Let me wait until I receive my inheritance,” then I will follow you." He was deferring his obedience to Christ - based on concealed greed and a lack of faith - until it was convenient and economically feasible for him. He was trusting in his inheritance for security rather than Christ. Jesus was not in anyway degrading the practice of Christian burials. He was rather stating that we have higher allegiances and callings as believers. Human excuses are endless! Yet, the Lord commands: Forsake and follow (v.60).

The Cost of Personal Relationships (vv.61-62)

The third unprepared disciple also showed conditional commitment. He wanted to follow Jesus on his conditions: to be allowed to go home and say goodbye. His first love was his relationships with family and friends not Jesus (Mk.12:30). Many Believers still fall into a similar mold: We consistently place our relationships with others before our relationship with our Lord. We worry more about human applause, impression, and approval. We spend most of our time cultivating friendship with the world rather than cultivating our relationship with Christ (Jam.4:4).

The Lord insists on His uncompromising command (v.62). If a plowman looked back it would affect his ability to plow properly, and invariably cause him to plow a crooked row and possibly damage the crops he had planted. This is an apt illustration of what happens when we focus on anything other than our Saviour. We invariably plow a crooked row and damage the crop: human souls; a damage that may carry eternal consequences. Such a disciple is rendered "not fit": useless and unsuitable to the kingdom; like worthless salt (Lk.14:35).

When we “put our hand to the plow” we must be ready for a lifetime of relationship and service with Christ, and following Him.