As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Surrendered Treasures
What is the one thing I hold onto the most in life? You can be sure, whatever it is for you, that is what God will put his finger on and ask you to surrender to him. I know in my life it was the farm. I loved farming, it is in my blood. I enjoyed the field work, driving tractors, even the cattle and the constant chores were not bothersome. I truly loved the farm. When God called me to be a pastor I resisted. I more than went away sad, I flat out refused to give up what I had planned for my life. I refused to surrender the farm to God for roughly six months.
In the Old Testament God told the Israelites he was a jealous God who wanted to be first place in their lives. He is still jealous for our love and will test our faith by asking us to give up the most important thing in our lives to him. Jesus pointed his finger at the one thing in the man’s life he loved more than God, his money. It might not be money for you, it might a career or business like it was for me.
Whatever it is, God knows what it is and so do you. Jesus tells us, wherever your heart is that is where your treasure will be also. I had to come to the place where my heart was on God’s plan for my life instead of my plan. When I made the swap God filled me with joy and a sense of completeness nothing else can give. He will do the same for everyone who puts Him first place in their life, submitting everything to his Lordship.
All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give. I would ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live. I surrender all. I surrender all. All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all. - Dan Jones
Deficient Religion
Not a few Christians through the centuries have bumped into this episode and become convinced that, in order for their relationship with Jesus to advance any further, they had to give away everything – everything but the clothes on their backs.
I’ve noticed that churches, and I’m part of the problem, often encourage a vast wasteland of spiritual mediocrity. We embrace one of two forms of nominality (can I make up that word, please!).
Most the time we settle for a religion that tries to make us look like good people. We conform to church norms, especially the 10 Commandments, tithing, attending church events, praying good prayers, and saying nice things. Then everyone applauds us as saintly role models for others to follow.
Some slough the vestiges of looking good and, in the name of grace, live any “hell-of-a-way” they please. Forget the 10 Commandments, or any rules. God’s adopted me into his family only by the merit of Jesus’ death and resurrection. So I can live any ‘ol way I please.
Fear of sliding into the second nominality (indulge me!) drives the first group into look-good legalism while fear of the first nominality entrenches the latter group in their lawless living.
Few ever get beyond Commandment living, either in their slavery to it or their rebellion against it, to ask the far more fundamental and spiritually demanding question. “Is there anything – absolutely anything – in my life that keeps me from being all that Jesus wants me to be?” And if there is, I am willing to change, even if it leaves me penniless!
God of passionate relationships, I am making rather significant changes in my life right now in order to take my relationship with you to a new level. And I’m nervous about the process. Help me to be wise and harmless, and to successfully draw nearer to you. - Mike Leamon
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