We’ve all heard the phrase “I just could’t do without _________.”
Put another way: “I just couldn’t go on and leave ________ behind.”
Think about what that blank is for you. Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s a career or a hobby. Maybe it’s a pet (although probably not a cat, and let’s face it- the cat would survive without you. It’ll just go find a new employee- um, I mean, owner!).
Here’s the thing: when it comes to following Jesus, that mindset can create a tremendous tension, because following Jesus certainly means we will have to leave something behind. It may not be your thing, but it will certainly be something.
Just look at an interaction Jesus had with a few guys during his time on earth:
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”- Luke 9:57-62
In this passage, we see Jesus highlight three things we are often so reluctant to leave behind for the sake of His mission:
#1- Comfort.
The first man said He’d follow Jesus wherever Jesus would go…and Jesus told him to get ready for lots of nights outside without a pillow! Jesus’ point was this: following Him is not the road to comfort or an easy, care-free life. If you can’t live without comfort…then you’ll have a hard time following Jesus.
#2- The approval of people
The context for the second man’s response was not that of burying his just-deceased father. In Jewish culture, there was a second burial about a year after the funeral in which the body was dug up and the bones were collected and buried a box. Chances are this guy was the oldest son, and it was the oldest son’s responsibility to take care of this task. It was the “proper” thing to do.
Jesus made it clear, however, that following Him meant that the culturally “proper” thing to do would get in the way- and would have to be left behind. In other words, if you are going to follow Jesus closely, then disappointing other people is going to be a regular thing because Jesus’ mission is about reaching people- and that will cost us the approval of some people.
#3- Relationships
The third man said he had to first go and say good-bye to his parents. However, Jesus response was one that comes off as harsh, but reveals a powerful truth: following Jesus means that obedience to His command (“Follow me”) supersedes everything- even our closest relationships in this life.
***I would note that does not mean neglecting, say, your marriage and your children. It has to be said- plus, your spouse and children are your primary “ministry” to begin with. The goal, then, is to engage as a family with the mission of God…and sometimes that means leaving close friendships or even family ties behind.
None of that is easy to stomach. Jesus’ words cut directly to the core of the things that compete with Him for our allegiance. His words make us want to revolt and run the other way.
And if we do that, Jesus makes clear one other thing: He will let us walk.
Yes, He will love us. Yes, He will call us. But He will not beg and He will not force us. He offers us a choice- Him…or not Him. And choosing Him will mean walking away from something that you hold dear for the sake of His Kingdom.
The choice is yours.