No Looking Back

Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NKJV)
Several men had approached Jesus wishing to follow Him. One said, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Another said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” The third man said, “I will follow, but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” (Luke 9:57-62)
Each wanted to follow Jesus, but it seemed there was something in their lives that kept them back. To the first Jesus talked about the lack of security in that while foxes have their holes and birds their nests, the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. The second man had family obligations, to which Jesus said for his family to deal with them, he was to follow Jesus. And the third man still wanted to stay close to his family roots, but Jesus said if someone looks back they aren’t fit for God’s kingdom.
Each of these were harsh statements, but Jesus went directly to the motive behind each one, and that is there were other things in their lives that stood in the way of Jesus’ call to follow.
It was nothing less than divided loyalty.
Jesus wasn’t against family, only when family or earthy obligations get in the way of His call to follow. Even when His own mother and brothers sought to distract Him from His mission Jesus said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers … Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50 NKJV)
We cannot afford to allow anything or anyone to take priority away from our calling to follow Jesus; to use the gifts and talents that the Holy Spirit has so graciously given in order for us to accomplish His will and kingdom purposes.