One of the most disturbing stories in the Bible to me is the account of Jesus talking with the rich, young man. As I sit in my new house surrounded by stuff, I have to truly grapple with the challenge that Jesus issued to that young man. It can be realy easy to gloss over the words and lose the personal significance of the story. Jesus encountered a man who had kept the law since birth. By the world's standards a fairly upstanding citizen and righteous man, he seemed like an ideal candidate to become one of Jesus' best disciples. This young man also happened to be very wealthy, something that the people of the day would have take as a sign of God's blessing and favor.
This young man came to Jesus asking what more must he do to inherit eternal life. He was probably fairly confident in his credentials. Yet he wanted to be sure of his position. Jesus then said something that rocked his entire worldview, something he had never expected. Jesus words were so strong that they even caused distress to the disciples, men who had followed him daily for quite some time. Jesus said, "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."
Jesus went on to warn about the dangers of riches. These comments connect with Jesus' warning in the Sermon on the mount about trying to serve both God and money. Jesus explicity warned that we cannot serve God and anything else at the same time. There can be no divided loyalties. Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other" (Matthew 6:24).
I find myself really wondering when I read passages like these, "Could Jesus have really meant what he said?" How could He really expect the young man to sell everything and give it to the poor? Would He dare ask the same of me?
As I search the Scriptures, I discover that Jesus does indeed ask everything of me. Yet stangely, the process of letting go is somehow liberating. And when I open my eyes, I discover that I now have much more than I had at first. In Christ, we truly have all things in One.
Yet if I know this to be true, why do I struggle so much to live like I really believe it? The answer seems to lie within my own struggles. Instead of focusing on my deficencies, I should focus on God's sufficient work on my behalf.
It can be real easy to get dejected when I read about men of faith like George Muller. He constantly sold stuff and did whatever it took to keep from having things own him. He took daring leaps of faith as He felt led by God. The real trick is how to learn from his life without falling under the weight of his actions.
God has different callings and plans for each person. Posessions aren't really the problem. They simply expose the problem brewing under the surface. And for each of us, Jesus might look at us and say something different regarding that one thing we lack. I just need to be ready to let go of anything that my Lord demands of me. Trust comes as I step out of the boat and look for God to provide for all of my needs according to His riches and glory.
Dietrich Bonhoefer captured it well in The Cost of Discipleship when he wrote, "The way to misuse our posessions is to use them as an insurance against the morrow. Anxiety is always directed to the morrow, whereas goods are in the strictest sense meant to be used only for today. By trying to ensure for the next day we are only creating uncertainty today. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. The only way to win assurance is by leavng tomorrow entirely in the hands of God and by receiving from him all we need for today."
Henri Nouwen wrote about the rich young ruler in The Road to Daybreak, "Jesus loved this young man, and as I understand it, desired to have him with him as a disciple. But the young man's life was too complex he had too many things to worry about, too many affairs to take care of, too many people to relate to. He couldn't let go of his concerns...I wonder how different his life would have been had he been free enough to follow Jesus."
I don't want to live life with this question left unanswered for whom Jesus has set free is free indeed.
Thank You, God, for setting me free and giving me life. Thank You for providing for my needs and caring for every little aspect of my life. Thank You for covering me with your blanket of love and the security of knowing that all things are mine in You. Help me to live as a free man. May I excercise faith in my daily actions and trust in Your provision. I don't want to live a life of calculated decisions any more. Help me to be reckless by the world's standards if that is what You desire. Show me what I lack so that I can find it in You. Amen!
