Fair weather followers

Most of us have heard the term “fair-weather friend.” It refers to a person who is loyal only during good times, but who deserts us quickly as soon as things get rough – or as soon as the friendship begins to cost them something. Proverbs 25:19 says that such “friends” are like toothaches and sprained ankles – neither of which can withstand any pressure! Chances are, we have probably all known someone like this – someone who is glad to be around when nothing is required of them, but who cannot be found as soon as there is any work to be done on their part.

Unfortunately, this same thing is true when it comes to followers of Jesus. In fact, Jesus knew this was the case and spoke about it specifically in several passages in order to “weed out” such people from the crowds that would gather around him wherever he went. Jesus recognized a very important truth when it comes to friendships – that it is better to have a few true friends than many “fair-weather friends.” And this is even more important when it comes to discipleship.

The word disciple literally means “a learner or pupil.” Disciples of Jesus were those who watch, listen and learn from Jesus, with the goal of going out and saying and doing the same things themselves. On many occasions Jesus gave his disciples this simple command: “follow me.” The word translated “follow” in this command literally means, “walk in the same road with.” In telling his disciples to follow him, Jesus was telling them to walk the same road he walked – experiencing not only the same joys and triumphs but also the same difficulties and rejection.

Luke 9:57-62 records three conversations Jesus had with three different men about following him. These brief conversations reveal some powerful truths about the reality of what following Jesus means. The first man approached Jesus and said, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus responded to this man by saying, “The foxes have holes and the birds of their have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Like many of the things Jesus said, this statement is true at several different levels. At one level, Jesus was saying that he did not yet have a place of authority (a place “to lay his head”) on earth. (See “Understanding authority”) But at another, more obvious level, Jesus was saying that he had no certain dwelling place, because he and his disciples lived a somewhat nomadic life, moving around from city to city. The obvious implication of this statement is one which most of us, particularly in America, do not want to face. Jesus was telling this man that discipleship is not a life to be consumed on acquiring home, property and things, but rather one that was spent entirely for the purpose of bringing forth the fruit of God’s kingdom.

The second man in this passage, after Jesus told him to follow him, said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” By referring to burying his father, this man was probably thinking about his inheritance, and was essentially asking Jesus to let him become financially independent before following Jesus. Jesus answered the man saying, “Let the dead to bury their dead, as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the Kingdom of God.” This statement too is hard for many people to hear, because it makes it clear that Jesus expects his disciples to follow him even without any tangible source of income.

The last man in this passage came to Jesus and said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” Jesus answered the man saying, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus us saying that the claims of discipleship are more important than even our closest family relationships. He also says that anyone who “puts his hand to the plow” of discipleship and then looks back to the life, position, possessions, or relationships that he once had is not yet “fit” to be a disciple.

Examine your own commitment to following Jesus Christ. Are you a “fair-weather” follower?