Timing

There is an often quoted but seldom understood passage in Matthew 8:21, 22: "Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."  On the surface, it seems rather harsh, that Jesus would turn someone away just because he wanted to do the honorable thing of overseeing his Dad's final arrangements. 

The problem with that observation is that it isn't very observant. To begin with, in the previous toe verses (19, 20), another individual says, "I will follow you whever you go," to which Jesus Responds, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”  Then, in verse 21 (the first part that most seem to gloss over) says, "Another disciple said to him..."

Jesus was not turning away someone from salvation, he was telling his disciple that the opportunity to join him in his personal ministry was now. The work of God could not wait on the convenience of man's circumstances. The disciple was free to stay until his father passed, make and conclude the arrangements.  He was also invited to go with Jesus and his apostles - he could not do both. 

It is no different today when we feel the call of God to join him in a ministry or mission and we say, "I'll go, just let me get my kids through school first or get to retirement or retire my mortgage. God will allow you to do that but the ministry or mission to which he was calling you will be accomplished by someone else, someone ready to go when God calls.

Whenever God calls, there will be some circumstance that makes it inconvenient for you but God knows your circumstances and he knows the power he can bring to bear as well as the people he can send your way to help. When God calls,the timing is right, regardless of your circumstance. Jus' Sayn.