Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
This particular man had everything: money, power, fame, youth, and a morally upright lifestyle. And yet we still see him running to Jesus and falling on his knees with a question burning in his heart. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" It was an obvious question with an obvious answer: obey the commandments, but all these things this man has done and still he feels empty. "There must be more to life than this?"
And then, Jesus tells him what he wanted to hear, that indeed he has overlooked something, and that there was but one thing he lacked: A personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The command he gives here is to be taken together. Charity and altruism is not enough: he must follow Jesus, yet still he must give all that he has to truly follow.
All his life he kept the law and was left unfulfilled, and yet when the time came and the personal invite from Jesus Christ into a real relationship with the Divine Trinity was offered, the one and only thing which can fill that spiritual void, the man walked away back to his wealth which has left him so empty before, back to his life of longing for more. In the end, even the man who has everything but has not Christ is left wanting more.
Showing posts with label rich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rich. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Luke 6:24
"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort."
Has anyone ever told you this? Has anyone ever told you that seeking to be wealth is a wrong thing? That being comfortable is not to be desired? Indeed Jesus goes against the very ethos of American society and the American Dream of a house in the suburbs and a white picket fence to surround your impeccable green lawn.
Why should we seek comfort in this life? Such things are a trap to spiritual stagnation and laziness. It is no wonder that the more comfortable we are, the less we pray. The more we rely on our own wealth, the less we rely on God. When a branch refuses to grow, it is in danger of being cut off and thrown into the fire. It needs to be brought to maturity so that it might bear fruit.
Let God lead you into difficult situations, things you never thought you could handle. He will stretch you and grow you. You will feel like breaking but you are clay in God's capable hands. If you believe there is an afterlife, than live like there is one. What good is it to store up comfort now and forsake eternal comfort?
After all, we only have a short time to spend on Earth, so don't get to comfortable.
Has anyone ever told you this? Has anyone ever told you that seeking to be wealth is a wrong thing? That being comfortable is not to be desired? Indeed Jesus goes against the very ethos of American society and the American Dream of a house in the suburbs and a white picket fence to surround your impeccable green lawn.
Why should we seek comfort in this life? Such things are a trap to spiritual stagnation and laziness. It is no wonder that the more comfortable we are, the less we pray. The more we rely on our own wealth, the less we rely on God. When a branch refuses to grow, it is in danger of being cut off and thrown into the fire. It needs to be brought to maturity so that it might bear fruit.
Let God lead you into difficult situations, things you never thought you could handle. He will stretch you and grow you. You will feel like breaking but you are clay in God's capable hands. If you believe there is an afterlife, than live like there is one. What good is it to store up comfort now and forsake eternal comfort?
After all, we only have a short time to spend on Earth, so don't get to comfortable.
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