1 Kings 19:19-21 – Willing to pay the cost to serve God

The three verses of 1 Kings 19:19-21 describe for us the recruitment of Elisha. His name means God is salvation. When Elijah saw him, he was plowing the field with 12 pairs of oxen. Verse 19 said that as Elijah was passing by him, he was with the 12^th pair of oxen. The former then threw his mantle on him. Symbolically he was transferring the prophetic ministry to Elisha.  

Immediately we surmise that Elisha was not a poor person but a person of means. Otherwise, he would not have so many yokes of oxen. For him to heed the call to the prophetic ministry meant that he would have to make sacrifices. However, to give up all and serve the Lord is a privilege. Secondly, we learn that Elisha was not an idle person. Though he was a person of means he was not idle. Elijah found him working hard tilling the ground. The ministry was not a place for an idler. Only people who are willing to work hard are suitable for the ministry.

In the call of Elisha, we conclude that the best qualified people must be recruited to serve God. We should not think of ministry only for those who cannot make it to be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. In fact, it is people with caliber that God needs for His work. And always remember that we must give God the prime of our life and not the leftover years of life when we are already one foot in the grave.

The response of Elisha was encouraging. His positive response to the call leaves us a model worthy of emulation. This is how we should respond to God’s call to discipleship and be disciple-makers. Like Elisha, the call to discipleship requires that we count the cost. Like him we must be prepared to give up what’s important to us to follow Christ. Elisha slaughtered his oxen, burnt his plowing implements, made a clean break with his past, and came and followed Elijah to be mentored by him. Are we prepared to give up our passion for the things of this world, stay single-minded and answer the call of God to discipleship? Jesus said that if we set on our hand on the plow, and then look back, we will not be fit for the work of the Kingdom. Discipleship requires that we count the cost and make the sacrifices. It is a call that cannot wait till our earthly life assignments are done. It is a call that we must respond to immediately. Let us give to God the best years of our lives. We will never regret it!