In Mark 10:17-22, this is what we read,
Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,' ‘Do not murder,' ‘Do not steal,' ‘Do not bear false witness,' ‘Do not defraud,' ‘Honor your father and your mother.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
This is an interesting passage, isn't it?! I think verse 22 could probably be read as "great possessions had him," and we wouldn't do too much damage to the text. Possessions possessed him, and he went away from his conversation with Jesus sorrowful.
When Jesus met this guy, He was able to cut right to the heart issue, what controlled his life. Verse 21 could be paraphrased, "Okay, you really want it? Here's your roadblock, baby." It was the guy's attitude toward his stuff.
This man loved possessions, wealth, and the things of this life more than he loved Jesus.
Where are you today, my friend?
Have you allowed our world to con you into believing that you should base your life on the stuff you accumulate? Or do you love God the most?
8 comments:
Nothing like starting the New Year out with a tough one! Lord, my prayer is to keep you #1 in my priorities and to give freely throughout 2010.
This is tough. I would like to think I would fall on the side of giving it all up. I am very intrigued to hear what the responses are going to be from you all. The reality is we are unlikely to have to face the real question, so it comes down to a heart matter. Am I content? Do I need more and more stuff to try and fill a void? and so on. I can say for sure that stuff and money does not make the heart situation any better. In my mind, the only way to find fulfillment and contentment is in Him. That is my prayer for us all today.
Blessings
cas
2009 was certainly a year when we were shocked with the reality that this world's possession can be removed quickly.
Lord, help me to keep that in perspective this year. It will indeed be a challenging year, but lord make this the year of our families.
In the last few years I have not read this passage as being related solely to material posessions. I think we all have our thing(s) that can keep us from the benefit of the full gift that Jesus has given to us. For the guy speaking to Jesus it was his "stuff", but for someone else it might be alcohol or food or unGodly sex or anything. It just means Anything that keeps us from putting Jesus as our focus.
I agree that this is a tough one to start the year but a good way to start it... looking at your life and truly ask "what" possesses me from giving 100% to Christ. Something I really need to think.
- LT
Good to see all the comments to start the year off right...I echo the prayers and comments offered up today...
I have a prayer request for Tom Anderson who blogs with us. He had a procedure done today at 10AM for gall stones. He's at Chester County Hospital. Hope to have an update today.
definitely a challenging one - interesting how each of us can feel like we are 90% in the good but we each have an area or two that is our obstacle. it is that concept of "absolute surrender" - not "partial surrender". i admit, i am focused on some areas other than God and need to keep working on this concept of absolute surrender.
I think for me I fell into the trap-having not had my family for almost a year-that my family was all I needed... and so we all took comfort in each other and I drifted away from God. Recently, we've all recently refocused on God, found a church we're finally comfortable with and are finally growing again instead of just existing or coasting. Not quite sure what my roadblock is/was, but definitely know that getting outside of my comfort zone will continue to take some effort.
happy new year all!
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