I’ve always found this short vignette intriguing:

Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9.61, 62, ESV)

The most common interpretation here is that “the plow” is the work of the kingdom, and you shouldn’t start the work while looking back at what you’ve left behind. After all, when you plow, you must look forward. That works as an interpretation and application, but I think it could be the other way: the plow is the plow. One puts his hand to the plow and just “looks” back at the work he could be doing for God.

The exact conversation occurred between Elijah and Elisha:

So [Elijah] departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him. (1 Kings 19.19 – 21, ESV)

This story seems to support my interpretation. Elisha is the one with the plow! Elisha burned the plow to cook the oxen! Don’t put your hand on the plow and wish you could join in God’s work. Burn the plow! Leave the nets!

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5.11, ESV)

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19.21 – 23, NIV)