Plowing A Straight Furrow

by Micky Galloway

Having been reared on the farm, I understand the necessity of plowing a straight furrow. Be assured when you plow looking behind you, your furrow will not be straight. Jesus said, “No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). What did Jesus mean, however by this illustration? Yes, it takes a certain kind of person to be fit or suited for the kingdom of God. Character is the distinct quality we are discussing. Many do not develop the commitment to serve God acceptably.

Brother Chris Simmons wrote an excellent article on this subject last week. His comments stirred me to also write on this subject.

To “put your hand to the plow” would signify the undertaking of any task. When discussing our service to Christ, it would indicate one who has become a Christian. In becoming Christians, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He is deity. Jesus said, “For except ye believe that I AM (he) ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If I reject Him, I reject His father and all the blessings offered through Christ. One must also repent. Repentance is a commandment of God (Luke 13:3) and is often neglected. Repentance must be preceded by Godly sorrow (II Corinthians 7:10), i.e. sorrow that my conduct has been offensive to God. This change of mind results in a change of life. One without the other is not true repentance. The penitent believer must confess his faith as Jesus commanded (Matthew 10:32). The eunuch of Acts 8 gladly confessed his faith and was then ready to be baptized for the “remission of his sins” (cf. Acts 2:38).

“And looking back” indicates a longing desire for those things left behind. In order to plow a straight furrow, one must look ahead instead of behind. A Christian must “press on,” leaving the things that are behind (cf. Philippians 3:13-14). Often worldly pleasures overcome Christians who remember the things of their former manner of life with the desire to return. The wisdom writer declared, “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man…” (Proverbs 21:17). Moses made a wise choice when he chose “to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). Worldly riches often become a stumbling block as we seek for more and more things. Paul said, “But having food and covering we shall be therewith content…for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been lead astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:8-10). Looking back to worldly cares has cost many their souls. The cares such as our text mentions: “suffer me first to go and bury my father,” or “first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house,” would rarely be considered “worldly” by many, but it was the occasion of the statement, “no man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59-62). How many of us are willing to forsake all and follow Jesus without looking back?

No man who becomes a Christian and looks back to worldly pleasures, worldly riches or cares of the world is fit for the kingdom of God. Jesus left the glory of heaven and endured the humiliation of the cross for us. Our excuses sometimes seem so feeble. Those devoted to following Christ do not offer excuses. Neither will we allow others to interfere with our privileges, duties and responsibilities to God. Let us think on these things the next time we are discouraged, upset or are considering giving up or quitting.

Once we put our hand to the plow, let us never look back. Let us always “press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Let us stay focused on the goal and, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Let us remember those who have gone before, “seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, … and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of (our) faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).