Christian Living

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BE CAREFUL WHO YOU FOLLOW
(Jesus) quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man lead a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.” Luke 6:39,40 (The Message)

Wise counsel! Be careful who you follow as your teacher. Some people are leaders and others are followers; perhaps the majority are followers. Why do people choose to follow who they follow? Is it because the leader is clever, rich, beautiful, handsome, successful, or popular?

Something elevates another in our eyes and so we follow but with very little regard to where they are leading us. The focus is on the present. We are dazzled by appearances and set off after them because we aspire to being like them.

Believers in Jesus are just as prone to follow all kinds of spiritual leaders, those who are eloquent, or appear to be blessed because they are wealthy, or successful because they run big churches or because they have spectacular ministries.

In Jesus’ day, it was the religious boffins that people followed, those who appeared to be far more “holy” than the common people. There was no shortage of visible religious performance from them, for example, from the Pharisees. However, Jesus questioned their destination. “If you are following them as your teachers, do you know where they are going? What is the end result of what they are teaching you?” He urged people to examine their fruit. Is it good fruit? Did their teaching bring them into greater bondage to keeping rules and “doing” stuff, or more freedom to love, trust and worship God?

Jesus called the religious leaders blind. Why? Because they had no idea where their teaching would land them and they were unaware that their destination was “the ditch”. What makes such leaders blind? The Apostle Paul gives us the answer in 2 Corinthians 4:4 – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of glory of Christ who is the image of God.” They refused to accept the truth that Jesus is the Son of God and the way to the Father. They created their own way which they thought would take them to God but instead led to judgment because they believed that God would receive them on their terms.

Jesus declared categorically, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. How do we know He spoke the truth? How do we know we can trust Him? He predicted His own death and resurrection and pulled it off. That should be enough to convince us that He spoke the truth! He said that if we believe in Him, entrust ourselves to Him and follow His way, He would give us eternal life and take us to the Father.

When we choose who we are going to follow, we need to look carefully at where that allegiance is going. Is the person we are following trustworthy? Is he/she capable of delivering on their promises? What is the expected outcome of their way of life?

Sound counsel indeed! Be careful who you follow as your teacher. They are going somewhere. Do you want to go with them?

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