‘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!” ‘
Mark 10:21-23 (NLT)
Jesus asked the rich man to give up his possessions in order to follow him. This was a difficult thing to do for he had many possessions. These very things were the things that held him back from following Jesus. Jesus wanted him to see what the cost would be to follow Him. Being rich was not wrong, but Jesus challenged the rich man to relieve himself of what he bases his pride, identity, comfort, and security on. Jesus wants our lives free from what holds us to this earth and from entering the Kingdom of God. We can have both, but our souls and love must rest in only one – Jesus or the things of this world. We may think that Jesus is asking us to be poor, no. He is asking us to not be so attached to the blessings we have on earth that we forfeit our souls.
We are all rich with something, it could be time, money, knowledge, beauty, ability, or talents. Whatever they may be, if, Jesus asked you to give it up, how hard would it be to let it go and obey Jesus? I had to think about how I love to work out and build my body to a point where I feel happy, confident in my looks, healthy, and strong. But if Jesus were to ask me to turn in my gym membership and follow Him, how difficult would it be? I am not going to lie; it would be quite difficult. I know I would struggle with it because I do know how much this has become part of my identity and even to some extent, pride. Yet, Jesus is asking me to be able to let go of this striving for my glory to put my focus on Him. To trust in Him versus my ability. Jesus desires that things be put into the right priority so we do not miss out on entering the Kingdom of God because we are so weighed down by something here on earth.
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for Your words to me this morning. I pray that I will choose to follow you and that your will be done in my life versus mine. All that is here on earth will pass away, so please help me to keep my eyes out and on the eternal. Thank you for your grace and patience as we work out our faith and begin to count the cost and take up our cross to follow you. I love you and ask of this in your name, Jesus. Amen!
