Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals.
This is the command of Jesus to the seventy two disciples whom he sent ahead of him into every town and places he intended to visit. Interpreting them in a more liberal manner, we can take them as warnings on distractions that we face in Christian life.
CARRY NO MONEY BAG. In today's world money means power - power to get what you want, to go where you want. Money translates to access - access to the most exclusive restaurants, bars, shops, villages and circles. Money generates influence - to the powerful, to the decision-makers. Money means control. But in following Jesus, the opposite is true. God is in control not us. A frutiful discipleship entails awareness and acceptance from the very beginning of the limits of our control and the boundless power of the Lord. Carrying no money bag means trusting in the power of God. Things may not happen according to our plans, or expectations or desires, but what is important that things happen according to God's plan, God's time and God's desires. Yes, money is powerful. But do not trust money. Trust in the power of God.
CARRY NO SACK. It is in the sack that you put whatever you get from the journey. A sack ensures that one is able to take whatever one wants, or whatever is given, from the places one visits. The sack ensures that we get. Sometimes before doing anything some poeple ask what they will get from doing it. They first think of profit, of benefit. This is impossible for a genuine disciple for a disciple is ask to give; giving itself is the reward of discipleship. The opportunity to give is benefit in itself. Of course the disciple will get something great in return, but to put that ahead of anything is selfish. Genuine discipleship is a radical lesson in unselfishness. Carrying no sack means giving without expecting anything in return.
CARRY NO SANDALS. Sandals is for the feet. And feet is for travelling. Feet takes us where we want to go, or where we should go. Sandals mean direction. Oftentimes security in the journey is achieved when we know where we are going; when we know the arrival point. In following Jesus, the arrival point is not always clear. Oftentimes what we have are descriptions of the destination, glimpses of what lies ahead, but never a hundred percent certitude. What is important is whom we follow. What is important is whose examples we imitate, whose words we listen to, whose road we take. The end may not be clearly in sight but what is important is with whom we take the journey. With Jesus, the ever reliable Son of God who has offered us his friendship. Being with Jesus assures us that we shall arrive, grace-filled and fulfilled.
Christian life is like a journey. Discipleship is going into towns that Jesus intend to visit. And we can be distracted by what he have [money bag], by what we can get [sack] and by where we want to go [sandals]. But ultimately what matters is with whom we journey with - with Jesus. Only Jesus. Always Jesus.
