Jesus sent His disciples out on a mission saying, ‘Do not take a purse or bag and do not greet anyone on the road’ (Luke 10:4 NIV).
Observe three things He emphasized:
(1) ‘Do not take a purse.’ No hoarding! God will bless the man or woman who says, ‘Every penny you give me above my needs, Lord, I will use to fulfil your purposes.’ Imagine standing at the judgment seat of Christ with your riches uninvested, your assignment unfulfilled, and your sphere of influence unreached for Christ. What could you possibly say?
(2) ‘Do not take a bag.’ No excess baggage! God’s Word says, ‘let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us’ (Hebrews 12:1 NLT). Whatever can get your attention can influence you, and whatever can keep your attention can master you. Satan dreads the completion of your assignment, so you must fight to keep your focus.
(3) ‘Do not greet anyone on the road.’ Don’t waste time! Question any relationship that doesn’t contribute to your destiny. Paul was single-minded on this issue: ‘if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him’ (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
The hour is too late and the need too great. In the old days, in certain agricultural states in America they closed the schools for a few weeks and everyone was sent into the fields to gather the harvest. Why? Because to wait is to be too late!
