The other night I was watching the forums on tv with the two presidental candiates. One of the questions asked of them was: “What is rich?” Seems like a pretty simple question, right? Well they answered the question saying diferents amounts and listing different possessions that would make an individual rich. As I sat their listening I kept thinking about the the rich young man that Jesus spoke with. He obeyed God in every area, the man told Jesus. He did not commit adultery, do not steal, murder, disobey his parents and he had loved his neighbor as himself. Yet, Jesus knowing his hearts and ours, told the man- “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessiong and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mat 19:21)
So did the young man run immediately and sell everything he had? No, you know what He did? “He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (v. 22). I am so convicted when I read that. How often am I like that rich young man. Knowing what Jesus has told me to give up to follow Him, yet I hunch back and say- “No, God not that.” Jesus boldly told the man to give up everything he had and He promised he would recieve treasure in heaven. Wow! Jesus even promised a treasure, but yet him and I get to caught up in the ‘stuff of earth’ to realize what we are truly missing. Am I willing to give up everything I own to recieve the treasure of heaven? If I lost everything I had tonight would I be completely content and satisfied in God that I would not care? Or do I clutch onto my earthly things and not choose to follow Him with everything even my life. Would I be faithful to Jesus even to the point of death?
I ask myself these questions, but also ask yourself would you follow Jesus no matter what the cost? And oh, how I pray that God would shape my heart into His. I pray my only passion in life would be to follow Jesus with all my heart. That no matter what happens in life, no matter what I lose, I will always say- “Here I am, I will follow You, Jesus.”
I ask myself these questions, but also ask yourself would you follow Jesus no matter what the cost? And oh, how I pray that God would shape my heart into His. I pray my only passion in life would be to follow Jesus with all my heart. That no matter what happens in life, no matter what I lose, I will always say- “Here I am, I will follow You, Jesus.”
