In our series on answering your questions, I recieved this one recently in my email:
"Pastor,
How do we put forth our hands to the plow for the kingdom, stirring up the gift of God within us for his Glory?
Ron"
This is a good question and is in two parts. So I will answer it in two parts tonight and then combine them at the end.
The first part, I believe, stems from the verse we find in Luke chapter 9:
Luke 9
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
59He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family."
62Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Jesus’ responses here seem a bit confusing. But they all have the same underlying principle which we will get to in a few moments.
Verse 58 Jesus is responding to a man who volunteered. Jesus had given this response at least once before, a year earlier to a scribe which we find recorded in Matthew 8
Good chance Jesus had used this response many times to test those who wanted to be a disciple.
As we see throughout this text and many others that are similar or parallel it, Jesus is expecting and calling for a commitment that goes beyond fleshly comforts and normal human security.
In this case, He is saying that even animals have a more secure existence than do those who truly commit to follow Him.
A person who is fully surrendered to Christ cares little about their geography and knows that God can move them at any time for any reason because He is, after all, the King.
The second response we have from Jesus is to someone He called in verse 59.
This response has caused much speculation and people are all over the map on this one. I‘ve heard opinions ranging from a declaration against any natural form of family to it just being a test to see how the man would respond.
Truth is we don’t know which way Jesus actually meant it in literal speak. We can understand the underlying principle of why He said it, but we cannot be sure of the full context of the situation.
We do not know if the man’s father was actually dead and the funeral was that day or the next, it is a possibility. In which case, Jesus was telling the man to let others worry with the affairs that Jesus had a more urgent and higher purpose for him.
It is also possible that the man’s father was old and nearing death and he was asking for time to see his family through until after his father did pass away. In this possibility, Jesus was instructing the man to let the family take care of its own affairs that He needed to serve God without any delay or distraction.
It is further open that the man was just putting the whole thing off and really had no intention of following Jesus and was just projecting a reasonable “excuse” to give him time to get out of the immediate situation. In this instance, Jesus was showing the man that there is no such thing as a reasonable excuse for delaying obedience to God.
Any one of these is just fine and in the end it doesn’t matter a whole lot the full situation surrounding the conversation, what matters is the point Jesus was making and that I believe is quite clear.
When God calls we are to follow Him wholeheartedly, without any distraction, without any delay, and even family obligations take a backseat to the purposes of God and His Kingdom.
Then in verse 61 we come across another individual seemingly ready to sign up for service with Jesus, but he too has a reason to delay.
Again, it seems reasonable to request the chance to at least say goodbye.
Here too, different people have various explanations for what is the underlying issue.
Was the man making a bold public statement to follow Christ for the attention of the moment, but in his heart he had no intention of following through and the excuse to say “goodbye” was to get him out of having to actually do what he was committing to?
Maybe it was his intention of following Jesus at a later time, but he wasn’t ready yet and saying goodbye was actually his way of buying time to party and live his own life out a little longer.
It’s also possible that the man was actually seeking permission from his family and wanted time to do that.
Any of these could be.
Again, the exact reasoning behind the statement is not important compared to the intent of Jesus behind what He said. I also believe it is very clear here.
God comes before even family relationships.
Let’s take a few moments on this saying of Jesus in verse 62:
62Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Let me say up front, Jesus is not referring to the story of Elijah and Elisha here in any way from 1 Kings 19. Some have suggested that there is a connection because of the Jesus using a plow as an example. There is no reason to believe that Jesus in any way intended that. When Jesus referred to Old Testament events, He usually stated them quite clearly.
It makes sense that Jesus would use a farming analogy as that was their way of life in that area. When Jesus was at the shore in fishing villages He used analogies they could relate to, here He is putting it in terms His audience can relate to.
I know in driving a car that you go where you look. If you turn your gaze away from the road you will start at least to drift that way if not completely turn the vehicle that way.
The best way to go continually straight is to focus on what is ahead of you some distance.
In plowing with oxen, one must look forward to keep the furrows straight, or so I am told. The closest experience I have is a lawn mower or a small tiller. In both cases if you don’t look out ahead of you, you won’t have very straight lines.
It does you no good in where you are going to be focused on where you have been for very long.
Again, you can’t drive a car very far be gazing into the rear view mirror.
Someone who is not intent on what they are doing and where they are going for the service of the Kingdom of God, is not fit for service in His Kingdom. Plain and simple.
The word “fit” is more completely translated as meaning “ready for use, well adapted, or well placed.” A person who is more worried with earthly issues is not ready for use in God’s purpose.
Back to the original question, “How do we put forth our hands to the plow for the kingdom?”
According to Jesus in His three responses here it comes down to this:
We give up all hold on earthly comforts and security, including the comfort and security of where we live
We place God before even family obligations, meaning when the choice comes between obeying God’s directives and Word or taking care of family issues, God takes precedence.
We focus on where we are going in service to God and keep our attention on the task at hand
Putting our hand to the plow is a lifetime commitment of complete and unconditional surrender to the purposes and will of God.
The second part of the question was how do we do this which causes the stirring up the gift of God within us for his Glory?
This answer is less specific because now we are getting into talents and abilities that are natural to us from birth as well as the spiritual gifts coming about in us as we are talking about on Sunday nights.
Since, I am taking time on Sundays to discuss the spiritual gifts, I will spend tonight looking at natural gifts and abilities within each of us and how they are stirred up for God’s glory.
I know many people who think they have no talent or ability. Let me share this quote which may hurt a bit, but I believe to be quite profound:
“It is almost as presumptuous to think you can do nothing as to think you can do everything.” - Phillips Brooks
This isn’t going to sound very spiritual but it starts as you follow your likes and natural tendencies - your talents
Talent = natural aptitude, skill, or ability
God created you for a purpose and gave you the desires for that purpose
Nick can sing and play the piano, and it is something he very much enjoys doing
I love to speak in front of people, it is a natural tendency
God not only gave us the abilities we need, but also the “want to”
What you are good at is often part of God’s will for you
It really starts out that simple
Try new things and experiment with different areas
When you find you can’t do something or simply loathe it, then move on
Find what you like and are good at and then…
Work hard to develop the talents you have
It takes work to be successful, even at what we are good at
I will bet Nick is a better piano player now than he was when he started playing as a kid because he practices and always has
As good a player as Tiger Woods is and as natural as golf comes to him (he was featured with Arnold Palmer at age 3) he works hours everyday to perfect his game
Be intentional, deliberate - disciplined in the development of your abilities
God deserves our best effort - He deserves for us to work hard at becoming who He wants us to
’’To me a winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses those skills to accomplish his goals. Even when I lost, I learned what my weaknesses were, and I went out the next day to turn those weaknesses into strengths.’’ Larry Bird
Seek out those who can help you
Tiger has swing coaches
Larry Byrd had coaches
None of us can achieve our best without the help of others developing us and teaching us
The Little Girl and the Piano
A little girl wanted to become a great pianist, but all she could play on the piano was the simple little tune, "Chopsticks." No matter how hard she tried, that was the best she could do. Her parents decided after some time to arrange for a great maestro to teach her to play properly. Of course, the little girl was delighted.
When the little girl and her parents arrived at the maestro’s mansion for the first lesson, they were escorted by the butler into the parlor, where they saw a beautiful concert grand piano. Immediately, the little girl dashed over to the piano and began playing "Chopsticks." Her embarrassed parents started across the room to tell her to stop, but as she played, the maestro entered the room and encouraged the little girl to continue.
The maestro then took a seat on the piano bench next to the little girl, listening to her play. After a moment he began to play along with her, adding chords, runs, and arpeggios. The little girl continued to play "Chopsticks." The parents couldn’t believe their ears. They were hearing a beautiful piano duet, played by their daughter and the maestro, and amazingly enough, the central theme of it was still "Chopsticks."
At times you may feel like you’re a nobody; that you will never accomplish great things.
But think of that little girl in the story
All she could play was "Chopsticks." Nobody wanted to hear "Chopsticks."
It was an embarrassment to her parents and annoying to everyone else.
Yet the maestro encouraged her to keep on playing. He knows what is best.
Even more so, so does God, follow Him
God knows what you can do.
He created you with your gifts and talents.
Sure, compared to some people’s abilities, your gifts and talents may seem like "Chopsticks"-- not very original and not very spectacular.
But God says, "Keep on playing--and make some room on the piano bench for Me."
God is able to take the little that we are able to do and turn it into something beautiful for Him
God gifted you with the talents you have for a specific reason, a purpose that is unique to you. That purpose can only be fulfilled if you choose to do so and then once you choose, you follow through rightly.
Though all you need to accomplish what God has set before you is already in you, you must develop these things and work into His purpose a day at a time.
The more you use your talents, the more opportunity He will give you to use them - faithful in the small equals blessings in the big.
Let’s bring all this together:
It starts with an unconditional surrender to God and His will that is not deterred by even family loyalty. God comes first period. Everything else fits in within the context of unhesitant obedience to God and His Word.
Then we put our hand to plow by remaining focused on Him and the task before us as we use our natural talents and abilities that He has given us for His glory. As we move forward we continue to develop and strengthen ourselves in what He has called us to do.
Our hand to plow is a straight forward, determined, and completely sold out position of effective service for our King.
