"The purpose to be a Christian requires 'decision.' Men should not tamper with the world. They should not consult earthly friends about it. They should not ever allow worldly friends to give them 'advice' whether to be Christians or not. God is to be obeyed rather than man, and they should come forth boldly, and resolve at once to give themselves to His service." - Barnes' Notes 
 
Luke 9:57, 59, 61 relates - "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee withersoever Thou goest...And He said unto another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father...And another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house."
 
Here we have three men, with three different reactions to a commitment to Christ, having the same problem - which was an inordinate attachment to this world.
 
The first one was extremely forward, rash, hasty, and inconsiderate in his response to Jesus' call - "...Lord, I will follow thee withersoever Thou goest."  He had the idea that following Christ would bring him great advancements in this world. His was a very worldly and selfish mindset.
 
The second man desired to postpone his duty for another time - "...Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father." He considered his relations to his family as being more important than the call of Christ. His main motto in life was - "Family first" or should we say "me and mine" - "me first" - "...Lord, suffer me first..."
 
Lastly, the third man begged a little more time to get his household affairs in order - "...but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house." This man's heart was so overtaken by worldly concerns and pleasures that he found it very difficult to break away from it all. He had worldly friends from whom he was having a hard time separating. He was a man-pleaser and didn't do anything unless he had the crowd's approval and approbation.

Stop a minute and ponder what is being said here, Oh Christian.

Are you like the first man in that you are a "big Talker" - "...Lord, I will follow thee withersoever Thou goest..." - promising God your entire life because you have the faulty idea that serving Jesus will bring you outstanding assets - fame, fortune, fun, and excitement? You totally reject any concept of the Cross life and what it promises - rejection, ridicule, hatred, sorrow, suffering, pain, misunderstanding, lack, persecution, etc.   

Perhaps you are like the second man in that you feel that you couldn't possibly answer God's call until your family's needs - "me and mine" - are all taken care of - "...Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father..." Everyone must be happy and content before you would ever think to venture out for the Lord.  
 
Or you may even be like the last man in that you are so attached to your job, neighborhood, church, school, family, friends, etc. that you would find it very hard to uproot from them to answer any call to move into "new realms" with God - "...but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house..." What would everyone think if you would leave their company now? You are much needed, too important, and overly committed to fulfilling their agenda to even think of leaving them. How would they ever survive without you?
 
The Apostle James had a word for such people who were struggling in their commitment to Christ.

Believe it or not - he called such people "adulterers and adulteresses," "friends of the world," and "enemies of God."(James 4:4)

Your reaction to James' evaluation will be determined by your understanding of the term "commitment."
 
Nothing - absolutely nothing - is ever to come between you and God. He must always and evermore be first in your life. If He is not, then you are guilty of idolatry - you are unfaithful in your marriage covenant with Him - your heart is estranged from Him - you have forsaken Him for idols - you are guilty of seeking your portion in this life rather than in Him.  He is not your all-in-all. Hence, you are not a Christian or one of His own.
 
What would cause you to make excuses in answering the call of God on your life? Some possible reasons are as follows:
 
a.. A love for the world and the things that are in the world - "the lust of the flesh," "the lust of the eyes," and "the pride of life"
b. The desire to "save" your life rather than "lose" it
c. The ambition to "gain the whole world" - its riches, honors, and pleasures
d. Your heart being "overcharged" - overloaded and rendered secure, dull and lifeless - with the things and pleasures of this life where it is hard to break away from it all
 
The Scriptures admonish us with these words -
 
1 John 2:15-16 - "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
 
Matthew 16:25-26 - "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
 
Luke 21:34 - "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."
 
For the cause of Christ, we are called away from a "love for this world" with its prevailing maxims, reigning principles, and sought after goals, amusements, and pleasures. This world is diametrically opposed to Jesus. It is hostile toward His laws and claims. To make it and its appetites, inordinate desires, and ostentatious boastings the object of our affections is to render ourselves as "enemies of the cross of Christ"(Philippians 3:18).  We may fool ourselves in striving to "gain the whole world," but in the end we will lose our souls.

If we have any excuses for why we cannot serve the Lord Jesus wholeheartedly and unreservedly like the three men mentioned above, then "the love of the Father" is not in us. We are not His own. He is not our portion. The world is. We are idolaters of the worst kind.
 
It's time to examine ourselves to see if we are in the Faith.

We close with the above comment from Barnes' Notes - "The purpose to be a Christian requires 'decision.' Men should not tamper with the world. They should not consult earthly friends about it. They should not ever allow worldly friends to give them 'advice' whether to be Christians or not. God is to be obeyed rather than man, and they should come forth boldly, and resolve at once to give themselves to His service."
 
May God Bless His Word.
Connie