One Intriguing Story (2)...An Example of Commitment - Elisha

The Story:
The Lord said to Elijah, "Return to the wilderness...and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet."

Elijah left and found Elisha plowing with a team of oxen; there were eleven teams ahead of him, and he was plowing with the last team. Elijah took off his cloak and put it on Elisha. Elisha then left his oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you."

Elijah answered, "All right, go back. I'm not stopping you!"

Then Elisha went to his team of oxen, killed them, and cooked the meat, using the yoke as fuel for the fire. He gave the meat to the people, and they ate it. Then he went and followed Elijah as his helper. (1 Kings 19:15-21)

What I think:
When Elijah called Elisha to be his assistant, Elisha followed him without hesitation. He did not go to ask his parents' permission first. Elisha simply went to kiss them good-bye.

Elisha broke his plowshare and used the wood to cook his oxen. He distributed the meat for others to eat. Everything was over, no more.

The story did not say Elisha sold his oxen and other belongings and (with the money in his pocket) went to follow Elijah. Basically, Elisha put an end to his past. When he followed Elijah, he did not carry anything over from the past. There was absolutely nothing from the past. It was a new beginning.

When we truely believe in something, we need true commitment.