Luke 9:62 "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God"
I once dreamed of being a plow
boy-a farmer that is.
One of my grandfathers was a farmer and the other had
been. I suppose the dirt, the sweat, the smell of diesel fuel, crops reaching
for the morning sun and releasing the night’s dew, and the joy of a bountiful
harvest all pulled me toward the profession.
Added to my heritage was the fact that I worked with a
friend who farmed. I listened to his stories, visited him when I could and
marveled over his ability to tackle tasks he had no formal training for.
The element of farming that intrigued me most was the
farmer’s ability to plow a straight row. So I asked my friend the question I
never had my grandfathers. His answer; “Pick out a point and head straight for
it.” So I did. When I reached the end of the row and looked back the row was
actually straight. But had I looked back at my beginning point while moving
forward, the results would have been different.
The same principle applies in a garden when using a
tiller or hand plow. I know because I’ve tried it. As Jesus listened to those
who claimed to want to follow him yet made excuses why they couldn’t, he
concluded, "No
one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the
kingdom of God"
(Luke 9:62 NIV). We’ll get a crooked row every time.
Jesus spoke to an audience familiar with farming, but
the admonition transfers into the most technological fields. Plowing in one
direction while looking in another reflects a lack of determination, and a lack
of this will result in crooked finances, relationships, investments, and perhaps
most devastating, crooked spiritual focus.
I’ve determined my relationship with Christ is the
most important field I plow, and when this is fertilized properly and tended
regularly, the straight rows will abound with sturdy spiritual fruit. God can
enable the row to reach our focal point.
Prayer: Merciful Father, when we’re tempted to look at
where we’ve been, train our eyes to focus on where we’re going.
Martin Wiles
mandmwiles@homesc.com
Harleyville, South Carolina, USA
www.morningliteministry.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.