Seductive subordinate loyalties ∙
Who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? – Luke 14:28
Luke 9:57-62
57 Someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, saying, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! You must go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
“Smart leaders understand that their job requires them to identify trade-offs, choosing what not to do as much as what to do. Grading the importance of various initiatives in an environment of finite resources is a primary test of leadership” (HBR).
Three interdependent elements are crucial for executing any project: objectives, resources, and timing. Achieving the desired outcome of a project requires clear goals, sufficient resources, and an appropriate timeline. If you alter one part of this triangle, the others must be adjusted accordingly.
While all three elements are vital, resources are the most crucial. They are what allow an objective to be met within a given timeframe; without adequate resources, any project remains a mere concept. Once a leader decides which resources will be allocated to specific objectives over certain periods, the need for ranking diminishes. This process naturally distinguishes three types of priorities: critical, important, and desirable (HBR).
The invitation from the Lord Jesus Christ to follow Him isn’t just a suggestion; it’s the most crucial and vital calling, surpassing all other loyalties. It is not merely desirable or important; it is essential and indispensable. It requires our unwavering commitment, and anything that hinders our complete dedication to Him must be set aside (ESV, Notes).
This requires a paradigm shift in our priorities, focusing solely on what truly matters. Sadly, less critical priorities can gradually blur our focus, drain our energy, and consume our efforts. We begin to struggle with the seductiveness of subordinate allegiances. Dr. Richard H. Seume describes it as “The lure of the lesser loyalty.” Often, it’s the minor distractions, the little things, not major crises, that steal our time from the Father. They nibble away on our commitments, and we lose our laser focus. We hardly notice the erosion of our determination and resolve to the Father’s prime directive for us.
Song of Solomon 2:15 Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!
Foxes, small animals that can damage vineyards, often dig around vines, loosening soil and destabilizing roots. They chew on trunks and roots, which can kill the vines or prevent fruit production. By eating tender shoots and grapes, they can destroy the crop for the season.
This could easily be restated as: “It’s the little foxes, not the lions, that spoil the vineyard” or “The biggest threats come from the smallest sources.” The foxes symbolize the little things not effectively dealt with that add up and create hindrances that stand in the way of the fulfillment of objectives. In Song of Solomon 2:15, they threaten to spoil love relationships.
REFLECT & PRAY
“The path of Christianity is strewn with the litter of straying saints. Invariably, each who has strayed has chosen to be led by a lesser loyalty” (Swindoll).
Father, the poignant words “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love” haunt me whenever I sing them. They bring tears to my eyes as I reflect on my tendency to stray from the God I cherish. Please take my heart and seal it for your courts above.
INSIGHT
Robert Robinson (1735-1790) may not be best remembered for his sermons, as they have been more or less lost to history. Yet, his hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” has become immortalized. At the age of 20, Robinson was introduced to Christianity by George Whitfield in 1755. Just two years later, in 1757, he penned a hymn that reflected his newfound joy and confidence in his faith.
Sadly, over time, Robinson began to stray from his dedication and drifted away from his commitment to the truth of Scripture. He became “a great soul racked and rent by the clash of inward loyalties” (Graham W. Hughes). “The allurement and siren song of “intellectual” speculations loosed him from his theological moorings until he drifted far from shore and became shipwrecked in heresy” (Doug Kutilek). His spiritual turmoil robbed him of the joy his own words once brought him.
A popular, though unverifiable, anecdote recounts that during a stagecoach journey, a woman asked Robinson’s opinion on the hymn she was singing. He reportedly replied, “Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then” (christianity.com).
How tragic it is that the seductiveness of subordinate loyalties can lure away any child of the King.
How can we avoid drifting away?
To prevent such drifting, we must thoughtfully consider our priorities and ensure we have the resources to follow through and complete the Father’s assignment He has for each of us. We are called to be His disciples. True discipleship demands significant sacrifice and commitment.
Luke 14:28-32
28 But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
30 They would say, “There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!”
31 Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.
These Scriptures reveal profound truths. They highlight that one can follow the Lord Jesus Christ without fully committing to discipleship. An anecdote tells of a conversation with a renowned scholar about a former student. The scholar remarked, “He may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students” (Barclay).
Tragically, there are many believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, but so few who are genuinely committed and faithful disciples.
It is crucial to count the cost of following Christ. While the demands may seem daunting, we are not expected to meet them alone. The One who calls us to this challenging path accompanies us every step of the way and awaits us at the journey’s end (Barclay).
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.
Take my heart; O take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above.
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 