Commit to the Ministry
Let me tell you about the time I committed to ministry
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Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62 (NET)
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This is one of those rare verses I memorized because someone told me to.
The story?
I was about to start working on my Master’s at seminary and looking at launching a collegiate ministry in Denver. While talking all of this through with a mentor of mine, he encouraged me with this verse.
Basically, he was telling me to go all in or don’t go at all.
It’s not so much the physical act of looking behind you when plowing that’s the problem here.
Jesus here was attacking the half-hearted commitment of a man who wanted to sort-of, kind-of follow Jesus except he wanted to spend time with his family first.
Which, of course, is not commitment.
So, why did my mentor encourage me with this verse?
Because ministry work is among the hardest work to stick to.
So much works against ministers:
The cares of this world.
The struggle of raising families.
The attacks from the Enemy.
The indifference of the flock.
And on and on it can go.
I’ve often heard ministers tell those looking into ministry that, “if you can go and do any other kind of work, do it.”
The reason I’m in ministry — sometimes part-time, sometimes full-time — is because I “can’t” NOT do it.
I’ve got a divine tug on my heart — a calling — to do this.
So, I put my hand to the plow and keep looking ahead.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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