By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Luke 9:57-58
It seems this man was so impressed with the Lord Jesus that, in a moment of rashness, he volunteered to join the Master’s entourage. No doubt as he saw multitudes following the Lord, like the others, he expected the movement would swell into an insurrection against the Romans and sweep the Jews into the long-awaited glorious Messianic kingdom.
He wanted to be close to the action! ‘Lord, I’m right on Your heels. I’ve had enough of these Romans. Let’s go get em!’
Our Lord does not refuse this man the privilege of following Him. But He does correct his misconceptions.
‘That’s fine, but just so you know, I don’t even enjoy the luxuries of foxes and fowls. I have no home, no headquarters, no settled resting place. If you follow Me, you’ll never be sure where you’ll sleep from one day to the next.’
The enthusiasm of this man who a moment ago was eager to follow Christ disappears like an ice cube on a sizzling frypan. We never hear from him again.
It seems he wasn’t prepared to follow Jesus anywhere after all.
Follow Jesus when skies are blue, the sun is shining, and everything’s going my way? Sure! Where do I sign up?
But when I have to depend on others for hospitality and borrow a pillow from someone else night after night, no thanks!
Our Saviour came the first time in humility. Next time a prosperity-gospel Pentecostal suggests otherwise, you might recall what Christ told this scribe. Because He didn’t drive a Rolls Royce, because He was poor and lowly, multitudes have identified with Him and followed Him.
Praise God Christianity is not just for the wealthy!
Father, millions over the centuries have walked away from You because You disappointed their hopes. Some hoped You would make them rich. Others hoped a relationship would hold together. Still others hoped you would spare a loved one. But it wasn’t Your plan. Instead Your plan was not easy, and they rejected a Christianity that didn’t measure up to what they anticipated. Help me to follow You no matter what. When You lead me in the opposite direction of my dreams, help me to stay right behind You. When it’s uncomfortable, costs me dearly, and deprives me of what others enjoy, strengthen my devotion to You such that I remain Your steadfast follower. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.