Nehemiah 2:1-8 / Luke 9:57-62
To answer a question may not be as straight forward as it seems.
To answer a question from a subordinate can be casual.
But to answer a question from a superior, one needs to be rather careful.
One has to think about the reaction of the superior on the answer that one would be giving.
And if the answer does not find favour or unacceptable to the superior, one could be getting into trouble.
In the 1st reading, the king asked Nehemiah about what was his request.
Before Nehemiah made that bold request, he called on the God of heaven before making his request to the king.
And Nehemiah was granted his request because he called on God, and the kindly favour of God was granted upon him.
When Jesus asked those to follow Him, they seem to give replies from their own perspectives and may not have called on God to help them think of a reply.
In life, whenever we have to make decisions or choices, let us call upon God to know what He wants of us.
Then we have God’s favour upon us and we will know what God’s will is for us.