Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God."

In the parable of the Sower and the Soils Jesus told what it takes to grow in Christ and become spiritually mature. That maturity is needed to become disciples of Christ. In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus explains the cost of discipleship. This is the second time Jesus explains this. We find another description, of what is involved in being a disciple of Christ, in Luke 9:23-26.

" And he said to them all, "If you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me. For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. Will you gain anything if you win the whole world but are yourself lost or defeated? Of course not! If you are ashamed of me and of my teaching, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. " Luke 9:23-26 (GNB)

In Luke 9:57-62 Luke gives an account of three people who are wanting to be a disciple of Jesus. The first one seems eager and tells Jesus that he is willing to go wherever Jesus goes. Jesus warns him that to do so, the person will have to give up common items such as a roof over their head or a bed to lay in. Not everyone who is a disciple of Christ will have to give up such things, but everyone does have to be willing to do so if it become necessary in their work for Jesus. When Jesus called the fishermen to be His disciples "they forsook all and followed Him." Luke 5:11. They gave up their entire means of living, their security, and followed Jesus. Anyone who wants to be a disciple of Christ will have to be mature enough in their relationship and trust in Jesus to be willing to give up all for Him.

The second person who wished to follow Jesus was told, "Follow me." But then the person asked to wait and be allowed to go bury their father. Jesus replied to that by saying,"Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." It may seem like a cold answer Jesus gave him, but I think the point here is that there will be times when our work for Jesus will have to come before family duties. The Bible is full of admonitions to take care of our families and to respect our parents. But there will be times when duty to Christ and duty to family will conflict. Missionaries are often unable to leave their duties to help their family members, or even attend the funerals of their loved ones, because of their duties require them to stay where they are. It's a hard decision for them, but a true disciple of Jesus knows that Jesus must come first in everything. Family members need to understand this. They need to respect the person and show support for them. It's not easy to be so far away from family and not be able help them when they need it. Understanding and support from the family helps the person continue in the work God called them for.

The third person who said they would follow Jesus wanted to go home and say their good-byes to the family. Jesus told him that the person who looks back is unfit for the kingdom of God. When plowing a field the person keeps looking forward. If they look back they end up plowing a wavy line. A person who is following Christ keeps theirs eyes fixed on Him. If they look back they will wander off from that straight line making them unfit for God's kingdom. Many people have been persuaded by family or friends to give up the desire to follow Jesus. When a person decides to follow Christ they will often find themselves losing friends. If that is the case, then those are not the friends a Christian should have. A Christian should love and be friendly to everyone, but it is important that they are very selective in who their close associations are. It is important to have friends who will encourage you in your walk with God. Anything that pulls us away from that day to day relationship with God is something that needs to be removed for our lives. That may be certain friends, and it may also be some things we read, watch, or entertain ourselves with. Psalms 1:1-2 says,

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor stands in the path of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and in His law he meditates day and night."

The cost of discipleship may sound a bit high. But when we are in a day by day, minute by minute, relationship with Jesus, and living in His will, life becomes an adventure, abundant and full.