One day a rich young ma ran up to Jesus asking how he could receive eternal life. As Jesus told him to sell out all his possessions and then give the money to the poor, he departed dejectedly without saying any word.

In 1 Kings 19: 19-21, Elijah called Elisha to follow him and be his disciple, Elisha asked Elijah to allow him to go him and say good-by to his parents. The moment Elisha being a farmer returned home, he slaughtered his oxen, used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast them,  gave the meat to the people (farmers) around him, and went with Elijah.

Elisha’s determination to follow Jesus deserves our respect and models our Christian life. Are we willing to surrender to Jesus and follow him, giving up our surviving tools like Elisha, interests and hobbies, talents and skills, property and possessions for the sake of Jesus and his kingdom of God? Jesus has assured anyone who desires to follow him must give up houses and brothers and sisters and mother and father and children and property. If they do, they will receive in return a hundred times over their giveaway (Mark 10:29-30).