In the first post on Luke 10, we talked about the motivational instructions from Jesus to the seventy-two disciples, He was sending out ahead of him. Following that in verse 4, he gives them very unusual logistical instructions—but why?
“Do not take a purse or bag or sandals,” but why not? Do not provide for yourself, but let God provide. The lesson in faith that you will experience is much greater than the discomfort you feel in the first insecure steps. Many adults who go with Let’s Start Talking are in a financial position where they can write a check to cover all of their fund-raising obligations; however, it has long been our practice to discourage this, but rather to encourage them to send out letters to churches, family, and friends, just like our students who don’t own anything but their T-shirts.
Just recently, a couple in their forties, not wealthy but comfortable, intended to pay for their own trip, but finally agreed to follow our advice. They raised all of their funds and more from friends who wanted to support them in their short-term mission effort. The couple came to us and thanked us for “forcing” them to do this, saying that what they experienced and learned about faith and generosity was already a big enough blessing if they got nothing else from their mission experience. Christians going out in their own strength are Christians who are departing powerless.
“And do not greet anyone on the road.” Perhaps Jesus was worried about distraction. It is really easy for workers going out to stop and chat with friends or those who are nearer or those who are easily addressed. After all, isn’t this person’s soul of equal value with those who are never confronted because we never arrive?
I’m quite sure Jesus would have conceded the equal value of the souls, but He would have asked us, “but didn’t I send you to . . . ? What about those people? What distracted you? What kept you from arriving? The distraction may have seemed like something good—and maybe it was, but it was not what I sent YOU to do! That person was the task of another disciple . . . . ”
Jesus had just lost three potential disciples who refused to pay the price to follow Jesus without distraction (Luke 9:57-62). The one needed predictability to be secure; the next could not leave his parents in the hands of God; and the third had too many family responsibilities to think about Jesus. But they all were willing later . . . after they took care of these major distractions. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) Not even greeting someone on the road is enough reason to suspend your focus on accomplishing His task.
Next: In the next verses, Jesus tells them how to work and what they will experience. Sometimes a flashforward can be very discouraging. Was this a strategy for preparing disciples that we should imitate?
Mark's Blog 
Probably trying to justify paying our own way on LST, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 came to mind as our motivation. Paul, even though he knew he had the right to the help of his brethren, labored so that he would not be a burden to them, and to be a good example. The question would be, which would be the overriding principle, trusting the brethren, or being a good example to them of not being idle and paying for our own sustenance?
Pat, thanks for your comment. We often tell people to use their own funds if they wish, but to send out fund raising letters for LST anyway, so that more people can share the blessing! It does not have to be either/or. Both are very important principles.
in the luke 10 text, it is those to whom the 72 are sent that are to meet the needs of the 72. i’m not discounting being sent with money from family and friends here — but if the story is indeed about trust, how incredible is it that Jesus’ disciples depended on the local people for their meals and places to stay.
i do think it has to do with trust, but i wonder if it doesn’t have just as much to do with allowing those to whom we’re sent to minister to us. the 72 were sent to find people of peace, those who would give them — and the gospel — entry into a new community. one of the ways we know these people of peace is whether or not they meet some of our needs, feed us, invite us into their homes, give us places to sleep.
when i lived in china, i worked alongside a retired couple who were willing to admit difficulties in buying groceries and getting around town and the like. their chinese college students ministered to them, and later were open to the gospel — it was a very beautiful thing.
James, thank you for your insights. Sounds like you are familiar with CPM (Church Planting Movement) strategy. The “man of peace” is an icon of that particular mission strategy. And thanks for that last little story–which has a great lesson in humility for all of us. What I like about it especially is that it was a real need met by real desires to help that resulted in real relationships that opened up real conversations! We try so often to artificially recreate those realities in order to package strategies.
There are also been some interesting studies done on how to build relationships… one of the most interesting things: you must give opportunity for others to help you and allow them to help you.
If we are only helping others, the others are not invested in us. We need others to be invested in us, our friendship, and then what we say carries more what, what we do has more meaning. Then we can truly be a blessing and help them in ways that are substantial.
Jesus came to serve, not to be served, but look at how many people ministered to him and the disciples. There were quite a few who provided financially, gave a home to stay in, or fixed meals, etc.