March 5: Put Christ First

Most of us probably remember times when the Holy Spirit moved mightily among us, saving souls and infusing new life in cooled-off church members. All too often, however, the evidence of revival begins to fade away. Some of the converts slip back into the old way, the pig, to use a biblical metaphor, returned to its wallow. Is something new and strange going on? Not at all, as Jesus foretold. Today we will focus on three kinds of people who refuse to put Christ first and shift to two qualities He demands of true believers.

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

• We can identify the first as the impulsive hearer (9:57-60). The setting for this encounter between Jesus and a scribe (Mt. 8:19) happened a few months before Jesus’ death as he made His way to Jerusalem (v. 51). In a burst of enthusiasm the man volunteered to follow Jesus wherever He went. Jesus apparently cooled his ardor when He told the volunteer He did not have so much as a place to lay His head. How high you jump may not be as significant as how far you run after you hit the ground.

• The second man was a summoned hearer (vv. 59-60). He is the only one of these men whom Jesus invited to join Him in his work. The man refused the invitation, pleading the need to go and bury his father. The father, if dead, would have been mourned seven days, according to Jewish custom. Other family matters would need attention. However, the father may not have been dead. In that case, the man was pleading the need to postpone following Jesus until he was clear of all family obligations. In Matthew’s account Jesus told the man to “let the dead bury the dead.” Jesus realized the man was hiding behind family duties to avoid a spiritual ministry.

• We can readily identify the third man in that he was a cautious hearer (vv. 61-62). He volunteered to serve with Jesus, sort of. First, he wanted to go back home to bid farewell to members of his house. The word “farewell” has a finality about it, almost as though he were going off to serve in the military in a foreign country. Contrast his response with that of Philip (John 1:43), and Simon and Andrew (Mt. 4:18-20). They immediately left everything and followed Jesus. The opportunity Jesus offered the unnamed man was a once-in-eternity offer, never to be repeated. Christ’s call to us may not be as clear, but once we understand, we should let nothing hinder our response.

• To put Christ first, we must be willing to be a cross-bearing hearer (14:25-30). We have sanitized the cross until it becomes an adornment for earrings or a necklace, but in Jesus’ day it signified a horrible means of execution. To bear His cross meant that believers marked themselves as objects of scorn and, ultimately, death. Those unwilling to put themselves under the threat of death for being a follower of Jesus were not worthy to call themselves Christians.

The first step is the necessity of placing loyalty to Christ above the anger and rejection of family (v. 26). The second step is an honest facing of life ahead (v. 28).

• This brings us to the last quality of genuine commitment, the willingness to be cost-embracing hearers (vv. 31-33). Enlisting in the service of Jesus means we are not overwhelmed by the satanic forces allied against us (v. 31). Protected by God’s armor and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:10-17), we stand victoriously in the face of the unseen powers. We attempt no compromise with sin (v. 32) nor do we enter into unholy alliances.