In what ways can we "burn our plows" to follow God's calling today? Setting the Scene: Elisha’s Radical Response 1 Kings 19:19-21 records: “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, ‘Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.’ ‘Go back,’ Elijah replied, ‘for what have I done to you?’ So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s yoke and equipment he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.” Elisha destroyed the very tools that represented his old livelihood. By burning his plows and sacrificing the oxen, he removed every possibility of retreat. His act models wholehearted, irreversible commitment. Understanding “Burning the Plows” Today • Eliminating safety nets that keep one from complete obedience • Consciously turning from any allegiance that rivals Christ • Declaring, through concrete action, that the old life is finished Modern Expressions of “Plow-Burning” • Confessing and forsaking habitual sin rather than managing or concealing it • Ending relationships or business partnerships that compromise biblical convictions • Resigning from positions that hinder ministry or moral integrity, trusting God for provision • Donating or selling possessions amassed through questionable means • Redirecting personal talents—music, art, technology, leadership—away from self-promotion and toward gospel service • Reallocating finances toward missions, the local church, and benevolence instead of consumer excess • Deleting digital content that fuels lust, envy, or bitterness, and replacing it with Scripture and worship • Publicly identifying with Christ through baptism or testimony in settings where doing so risks reputation or career • Accepting a missionary assignment, church plant, or foster-care commitment that disrupts comfort and predictability Sustaining the Commitment • Daily renewing the mind in Scripture (Romans 12:1-2) • Surrounding oneself with biblically sound community for accountability (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Remembering that Christ is worth every sacrifice (Philippians 3:8) • Trusting the Spirit’s power rather than personal resolve (Galatians 5:16) • Guarding against nostalgia for the old life by focusing on the upward call (Philippians 3:13-14) Scriptures to Strengthen Resolve • Luke 9:62 — “Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” • Romans 12:1 — “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” • Hebrews 12:1-2 — “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” • Philippians 3:13-14 — “…forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” • Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Burning the plows is more than a one-time gesture; it is a lifestyle of decisive, ongoing surrender. As Elisha left the field for prophetic service, so believers today renounce lesser loyalties for the surpassing privilege of following Christ without reserve. |
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