Man’s Total Commitment

MEMORY VERSE: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”—Romans 12:1

LUKE 9:57-62; COLOSSIANS 2:20 – 3:4

THE Scripture passages cited for this lesson reveal the Lord’s will for the followers of Jesus to be a full commitment of themselves to the Lord. When this way of sacrifice was set forth to the rich young ruler, the disciples were impelled to ask, “Who then can be saved?” (Matt. 19:25) From the standpoint of human wisdom it does seem that the Christian way is so narrow that many honest-hearted people would be held back from walking in it.

Besides, history has shown that very few in any part of the age have made a serious attempt to give up everything to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. True, professed Christians are numbered by the millions. However, the spread of so-called Christianity over Europe was not usually the result of Gospel preaching, but by the power of the sword. But true Christians are not made that way. Men and women become true Christians by accepting Jesus as their Redeemer and responding to his invitation to take up their cross and follow him. This is described in our memory verse as presenting one’s body a living sacrifice, as typified by the offering of animal sacrifices in connection with the services of Israel’s tabernacle.

There were those in Jesus’ day who approached this point of full commitment, but asked for delays for one reason or another. To the one who wanted first to bury his father, Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their dead.” (Matt. 8:22; Luke 9:57-62) The whole world of mankind is “dead in trespasses and sins.” This should not be confused with the condition of actual death.

We do not, of course, know all the circumstances in the case of this person, but Jesus may have seen that his desire to follow him was not wholehearted. The Scriptures make it plain that Christians are to recognize their real obligations to family, and to any who may be justly dependent upon them. The recognition of such obligations does not interfere with laying down one’s life in the Lord’s cause.

Another said to Jesus that he would follow him, but first he wanted to go home to say goodbye to his family. Jesus referred to this as “looking back.” Again we do not know all the circumstances. Here probably was an excuse to delay, and perhaps not to act at all once the man was away from Jesus. We are certain that the Lord does not want his people to be callous toward their families, although the doing of the Lord’s will must come first in every Christian’s life. There are circumstances under which the doing of God’s will involves, in fact, the meeting of responsibilities toward our natural families. See I Tim. 5:8

The Apostle Paul admonished that we should set our affections on things above, not on the things of the earth. God made the earth and the things of the earth very attractive, and in the next age the world of mankind will properly set their affections on these things. But we have been called to a heavenly calling. (Heb. 3:1) In mentioning one of the facets of this heavenly reward Paul describes it as the place “where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” This is indeed a glorious hope!

Paul explains further, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” This is very revealing, for it reminds us of the future age in the divine plan, when the whole world will be enlightened and blessed through Christ and the church. When we understand this we need not be concerned that the terms of discipleship are now so rigid, and that so few accept.

When the disciples asked Jesus what reward they would receive for giving up all and following him, he answered, “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28) In Matthew 25:31 we read of the time when Jesus comes in his glory, and his holy messengers with him. These according to Paul, will be those who are now setting their affections on things above. Their future work will be, together with Jesus, to rule and bless the world.

QUESTIONS

Explain the rigid conditions of the present narrow way.

How and when will the world in general be enlightened and blessed?

Does a Christian have responsibility toward his family?

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