Principle Passages: Hand to the Plow (Luke 9:62)

It’s essential for believers to acquire factual information about the Bible to understand that their faith is based on truth. But it’s far more important to know and understand biblical principles to live a life that pleases God.

In 1519 the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez sailed across the Atlantic and landed in what is today Mexico. The journey had been arduous and exploring the land was demanding and dangerous. Eventually the ship’s crew became discouraged and considered murdering Cortez so they could sail back to Spain.

Cortez soon heard of the possible mutiny and took decisive action. Rather than confront his detractors, Cortez ordered the ships burned so there was no possible way back to their homeland.

“Burn the ships” was not a new concept. Jesus taught the same principle over 1400 years before Cortez. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

The Old Testament echoes this principle through the life of Elisha. At God’s direction the prophet Elijah found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing his field with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him thereby indicating that Elisha was the Elijah’s chosen successor.

After kissing his parents goodbye Elijah took his oxen and slaughtered them. But then he took the same decisive action that Cortez did centuries later. Elisha burned his plowing equipment thereby ending any possibility that he would go back to his former life. The passage concludes, “Then [Elisha] set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant” (1 Kings 19:19-21)

The life principles from these two stories can be boiled down to 2 short phrases: “Burn the Ships” and “Hand to the Plow.” Jesus calls His followers to live a different life than we’ve known before. The way we think, talk, and act are to reflect the thoughts, speech, and behavior of Jesus Christ. As far as the ways we lived our old lives, Christ calls us to “Burn the Ships.”

But our transformation doesn’t end there. Christ followers are called to put their “Hand to the Plow” and invest our time, talents, and treasure in activities that reflect eternal purposes. We must use our resources to be salt and light in the world. We are meant to focus our lives to live out God’s unique ministry purpose.

What about you? Have you applied the biblical principle to “Burn the Ships?” Are you living your life with your “Hand to the Plow?” If not, take time to do business with God, “light the fire,” and plow the fields. If you are living your life as God desires, then live out these truths through the power of the Holy Spirit, and not your own strength.