With Reservations
A reservation is "the setting of limiting conditions or withholding from complete exposition." In Luke 9:57-62 we read, "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. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, where are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." These are three examples of those who wanted to follow Christ on certain conditions - conditions which were not acceptable to Christ. One was looking to following Christ to an earthly abode. He was looking for ease and luxury in discipleship. Another wanted to wait until his father died then follow Jesus. His was a wait a while attitude. The third wanted to hold on to his family first. Jesus asked for wholehearted service without any reservations. He asks the same of us today. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
1. There is a growing tendency among men to be church members but not committed disciples. They want to attend the services of the church on occasion and observe what is going on but do not want to be bothered with studying the Bible, learning how to pray, taking an active part in the services, or learning to be teachers of the word. They do not have the feeling of being a functioning part of the body as taught in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. In fact they are very vocal in saying, "don't call on me" for this or that in the Lord's work. We need to be as Eli taught Samuel to say, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth" (1 Samuel 3:9). We know that all do not have the same talents but all do have at least one talent they need to find and develop in God's service (Matthew 25:14-30).
2. There is also a growing tendency to not want to be bothered. People say, "Just let me be, give me peace." They do not intend to visit the sick unless it is their own family. They do not aim to set up any Bible studies with anyone and it would surely be beyond their dignity to knock on someone's door and talk with them concerning their souls. They simply want to live an inhibited life, saying to themselves that if they are good enough examples people will come flocking to the Lord's fold. Example is always important, and is a most vital answer to the perilous times in which we live (1 Timothy 4:12). However, the Lord wants us to be militant with the gospel. He says, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Those baptized are to taught to observe what the apostles were commanded and that is to go and teach all nations (Matthew 28:19, 20). The first Christians were "Praising God, and having favour with all the people" (Acts 2:47). They were worshipping, talking about their faith, and were good examples of that which they were talking about. All this goes hand in hand in the matter of evangelizing the world. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
3. There is also a growing tendency to not be concerned with pure living. God called on Israel to "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil" (Isaiah 1:16). Jeremiah said, "O, Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved" (Jer. 4:14). James tells us, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts ye double minded" (James 4:8). In walking among the great of society we have the tendency to do as they do, thus lowering our morals and living a worldly life. Evil companions will corrupt good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). This is seen in shorts wearing, social drinking, dancing, smoking, cursing, and adulterous relationships. Timothy was told, "Keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22). If we are ever to influence the world we must live above the world. We cannot lower our morals and ever lift anyone up.
From Our Archives, 1994
By: Clifford Dixon