I have slowly been moving my way through the book of Matthew for the past few weeks. Verse after verse stuck out to me for one reason or another, but one passage in particular stood out to me. In chapter nineteen, Jesus has just finished telling the disciples to “let the little children come.” A young, rich man comes up to him, wondering how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him in verse twenty-one, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” The man goes away sad…and frankly, I probably would, too if I were in his shoes.
I sat thinking about what I’d read and I could almost picture it playing out. In fact, I can see instances like it in my own life. I’m pumped up for Jesus; I’m bouncing around all chipper-like and I approach him. “God, you’re awesome and I’ll do anything for you. Just say the words and I’m there.” Then He says something like apologize for hurting your sister, or fast, or give this “burden” over to me. My response is to lower my head in shame and walk away—shoulders slumped. My thoughts? “God—you could have said anything, but that’s too hard! I just can’t do that; I can’t give that up.” It kind of makes me wonder what I AM willing to do for him.
In that same chapter, Christ says, “And everyone who has left houses or brother or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life (29).” Not only money, but now homes and family? I almost couldn’t believe what I had read. I looked at it for a while, reading it a few more times. Boy, if that doesn’t prove dedication to our Lord, I don’t know what does. Giving up money is one thing, but asking me to leave my family is in a totally different realm. But it comes down to what we are willing to do for HIS sake. Am I willing, even joyful to give things up for the one that sacrificed his life for me?
