Not exactly what one would call “warm and fuzzy words,” are they? These words are not the kind of “win friends and influence people” talk that would help a ministry grow. If anything, these words set the bar so high that most people would opt out.
Without going into detail, there are historic, cultural nuances behind the comments made to Jesus and His response that help us to understand that the “offers” were incredibly conditional, making Jesus’s response less repulsive yet still firm.
It’s that last line about the plow that gives me pause. I’ve never farmed. Yes, I have gardened, but I know that gardening is nothing like farming. I do know, however, that when farming, and particularly when plowing, it is essential to maintain a straight line. Starting to plow a row and then looking back can make a row as crooked as can be.
There was a time in my life when I competed in triathlons: open-water swims followed by a bike ride and then a run. (I don’t even try to be an athlete, anymore!) I had aero bars on my bike that would enable me to get into a more efficient position and theoretically ride faster. What I learned was that when I put myself into that aero positon and turned to look back, my body position would cause me to drift off the straight line I was trying to maintain. Only ruthless discipline allowed me to keep my eyes focused forward and not drift off-line.
It’s the same with the life of faith. It’s not easy; it takes discipline to follow Jesus. I have to say “no” to things I would like to do and “yes” to things that may not be so easy. But I have learned that the cost of following Jesus results in a far more fulfilling life than one of my own drifting design. Saying “no” to sin and “yes” to keeping my eyes focused on Jesus will always provide me with an incredibly soft pillow at the end of the day.