Luke 9:62 - Going All The Way With Jesus

No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God. Luke 9:62 (KJV)

He who "looks back" is not concentrating on the task at hand. He is, at
best, a halfhearted worker. . . . .  Absolute and undivided devotion is
essential to true discipleship. He who would plow a straight furrow in any
service for God must give the task his wholehearted, uninterrupted
attention. [SDA Commentary]

What does Jesus want from us? Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment.
We can't pick and choose among Jesus' ideas and follow him selectively; we
have to accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy. We
must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given
us security. With our focus on Jesus, we should allow nothing to distract us
from the manner of living that he calls good and true. [Live Application SB]

     There was the eager disciple (v. 57) who volunteered to follow Jesus
anywhere-till Jesus warned that discipleship might be uncomfortable.
     There was the reluctant disciple (v. 59) who, when commanded to follow,
wanted to wait until his father had died and been buried!
     There was also the someday disciple (v. 61), who wanted only a little
time. Just to say good-bye to the home folks. Then, someday soon, he
would follow.
     You see, what Jesus seeks is the now disciple (v. 62). Jesus wants the
person who will put his or her hand to the plow and, without looking
back, move straight out to do God's will.
     Taken together these incidents sum up what our decision to follow Jesus
as His disciples involves. We choose His will over our own comfort or
even our material security. We choose His will over even the most
intimate of personal and family relationships. And we give our total,
absolute attention to serving Him.
     As a teen, I plowed with an old one-horse hand plow, settling the reins
around my shoulders, grasping the handles firmly, struggling to hold
the blade level and steady, to make an even furrow. As the first furrow
was cut into the virgin ground, I picked out a pair of marks at the far
end of the field to line up carefully. If I looked back, the plow
wandered, and the furrow snaked off across the field. Only by looking
ahead, with eyes fixed on my guiding marks, could I do my job.
     This is what Jesus asks of us. To fix our eyes ahead, on Him, and not
to look back. We are to take the plow, now, and commit ourselves to His
task. [Victor Commentary mod]

These three men called Jesus "Lord" but did not do what He told them to do
(6:46; Matt. 7:21-27). When he heard of possible hardships, the first man
would not deny himself. The second man was concerned about the wrong
funeral: he should have taken up his cross, died to self, and obeyed God's
will. The third man had his eyes in the wrong direction and could not follow
Christ. The conditions for discipleship are given in 9:23, and these three
men failed to meet them. Their emphasis was "me first." No wonder the
laborers are so few! [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]

What causes some to "look back" after once putting their hand to the plow?
Several reasons can be given.  First, the individual usually becomes
careless, forgetting that his sinful nature can destroy his witness, apart
from the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even the apostle Paul
expressed his awareness of this potential danger (1Co.9:26,27).  Second,
carelessness usually leads to prayerlessness.  When we do not pray, we do
not receive (Jam.4:2).  Third, daily Bible study is neglected by the erring
one.  If these three tragic situations are allowed to develop, then a
spiritual fall is inevitable.  In the case of Lot's wife it was fatal.
[Daily Devotional Bible 4/9/89 mod]

God asks us to give His service the first place in our lives, to allow no
day to pass without doing something to advance His work in the earth. . . .
. It is the consecration of the life and all its interests, that is
necessary. PK221