When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:51–62 (RSV)
The purpose of human life is to live in the love and mercy of God. God creates us so we might know Him and live our lives in relationship with Him. He provides us with heart, soul, and mind so we might know there is a God, thus enjoying life in Him.
It is this love of the Father that desires us to be free to know and love Him. It is that freedom to love the Father we so often abuse. We use it as an opportunity to love ourselves over even the Father.
Yes, the Father wants us to know and love ourselves. He desires this and it is in the fulness of His love that we will know ourselves. When we choose to love anything before we love Him, we lose the fulness of His love.
Even as Jesus is going to Jerusalem to by His death and resurrection redeem all things, our self-love blinds us to the love of the Father. The Samaritans would not see it as Jesus was going to a place they disliked. James and John could not see it when they wanted to call God's wrath down on the Samaritans. Each of the three Jesus called to follow Him could not see it as they placed something in their lives more important than Jesus.
Some would argue that Jesus is unfair to demand such devotion. It would be unfair if it were anyone other than Jesus. Jesus has come to restore all things to the love of the Father. He has come to restore us to our purpose for being. Once restored, all things will be ours as we live in His love.
Apart from the Father's love, even the most wonderful thing of this life is a barrier to the Father's love. This barrier denies us the joy and blessing of our true humanity. Let us love as we are loved. Let us live in the Father's love so all things will bless us as is the Father's desire.