IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH...
"He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
Matt 19:18-22 (KJV)
Love is not only something you say, but a way to live. We often think that we are loving our neighbors, as ourselves--so did the young man who approached Jesus, looking for a simple assurance that he was righteous. But the test was--what are you willing to give up, to prove your love? The answer left him most "sorrowful", because he was being encouraged to give of his substance. Not just some, but ALL. What would happen if you were required to give up not all, but just some of your substance--the "things", that you so highly value, to prove your devotion to God and His people? Would you walk away filled with sorrow, or joyful for the opportunity to bless others and please God?
God offers us "treasure in Heaven" that cannot be corrupted by moths or by decay, but so often we settle for the treasure that we can obtain by works, here on earth--that will never be eternal, it will decay, and corrupt...just give it time. If you think money doesn't, wrong--the government disposes of it, after it has been cycled through our hands, banking systems and around the world--it gets shredded, some recycled. In fact, you can get bags of shredded money at the mint. That's how worthless it is. What things do we have that are most precious to us? Are they more precious than God? Do we give them more time and attention then we give Him? That's your treasure.
Jesus took it a step further. Beyond our obligation to love God, is our obligation to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. Esteem them more highly than yourself. What??!!! That goes sooooo against everything our society teaches us--and even the way we have begun to think in the church. If, in fact, we really did esteem others more highly than ourselves, it would not be so difficult to stand on the side of right--even when it is your friend or your relative that is wrong. There would be no respect of persons. We would choose righteously, fairly and honestly. We would take a stand for right. We would not stick with friends for the sake of friendship--if, friends are wrong. In fact, if we really love our friends, we will help them choose to do what is right according to God's Word. We will never support their wrongdoing. We will love them, but not the wrong that they do. (And, we won't lose friends simply because we don't agree with them, or because we tell them what is true--not in the Body of Christ!)
As the young man found out, as he inquired of Jesus, righteousness comes with a price. Sin has a much higher wage--the way of the transgressor certainly will be hard. The choice to walk with Christ, costs us something, too. To take up your own cross and follow Jesus, won't be a picnic. The cross gets really heavy, at times. There will be times when you will have your patience tried and your love tested--often, by the people of God! How much will you give up of yourself ("SELF"), for the cause of the brethren. Can you hold your peace, and not have the last word? Can you pray, and not faint--and not discuss it, either? Can you put your feelings aside and go to your brother and apologize, for the wrong that you have done, without concerning yourself with their response? Righteousness requires laying down "self" and putting on Christ! Walking as He walked, living as He lived, Speaking as He spoke. No malice, No gossip, No hatred, No meanness, No selfishness. Always thoughtful, Always caring, Always giving, Always praying, Always loving. Sometimes angry-but never unholy, Sometimes tired-but never unkind, Sometimes sorrowful, but never thoughtless. Still willing to die, willing to forgive--even His enemies, persecutors, those who hated Him, Still willing to see beyond the surface. The really deep thing, I think, about Jesus is that in all of His humanity He still maintained the power (through His divinity) the crush every one of those who hurt Him, but He used the power to resist, rather than to crush--that is real strength--real meekness. No weakness, there!!!! It doesn't take much strength to retaliate, it takes much more strength to walk away, to hold your peace, and to bless those who curse you.
Still want to be like Jesus??? Still feel like sticking out your chest, and declaring like the young man, "I've got this thing under control!" Or, maybe you are like me, and you need a lot more grace--or you just won't make it!
A few last words:
Be careful of the things you treasure most. Keep Christ at the pinnacle of your heart--nothing and no one else!
Let people off the hook. Forgive them. It is not worth it. Eternity is around the corner.
Love extravagantly, and without restraint--true love, that is--AGAPE (Godly love). Take the reigns off!!!
Don't focus on what you can see with your eyes, see with your spiritual eyes--the ones God gave you when you were born again!
Don't judge others, because you will reap what you sow.
Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
Give--stop building "bigger barns".
Love and Abundant Blessings!
Lisa
Matt 19:18-22 (KJV)
Love is not only something you say, but a way to live. We often think that we are loving our neighbors, as ourselves--so did the young man who approached Jesus, looking for a simple assurance that he was righteous. But the test was--what are you willing to give up, to prove your love? The answer left him most "sorrowful", because he was being encouraged to give of his substance. Not just some, but ALL. What would happen if you were required to give up not all, but just some of your substance--the "things", that you so highly value, to prove your devotion to God and His people? Would you walk away filled with sorrow, or joyful for the opportunity to bless others and please God?
God offers us "treasure in Heaven" that cannot be corrupted by moths or by decay, but so often we settle for the treasure that we can obtain by works, here on earth--that will never be eternal, it will decay, and corrupt...just give it time. If you think money doesn't, wrong--the government disposes of it, after it has been cycled through our hands, banking systems and around the world--it gets shredded, some recycled. In fact, you can get bags of shredded money at the mint. That's how worthless it is. What things do we have that are most precious to us? Are they more precious than God? Do we give them more time and attention then we give Him? That's your treasure.
Jesus took it a step further. Beyond our obligation to love God, is our obligation to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. Esteem them more highly than yourself. What??!!! That goes sooooo against everything our society teaches us--and even the way we have begun to think in the church. If, in fact, we really did esteem others more highly than ourselves, it would not be so difficult to stand on the side of right--even when it is your friend or your relative that is wrong. There would be no respect of persons. We would choose righteously, fairly and honestly. We would take a stand for right. We would not stick with friends for the sake of friendship--if, friends are wrong. In fact, if we really love our friends, we will help them choose to do what is right according to God's Word. We will never support their wrongdoing. We will love them, but not the wrong that they do. (And, we won't lose friends simply because we don't agree with them, or because we tell them what is true--not in the Body of Christ!)
As the young man found out, as he inquired of Jesus, righteousness comes with a price. Sin has a much higher wage--the way of the transgressor certainly will be hard. The choice to walk with Christ, costs us something, too. To take up your own cross and follow Jesus, won't be a picnic. The cross gets really heavy, at times. There will be times when you will have your patience tried and your love tested--often, by the people of God! How much will you give up of yourself ("SELF"), for the cause of the brethren. Can you hold your peace, and not have the last word? Can you pray, and not faint--and not discuss it, either? Can you put your feelings aside and go to your brother and apologize, for the wrong that you have done, without concerning yourself with their response? Righteousness requires laying down "self" and putting on Christ! Walking as He walked, living as He lived, Speaking as He spoke. No malice, No gossip, No hatred, No meanness, No selfishness. Always thoughtful, Always caring, Always giving, Always praying, Always loving. Sometimes angry-but never unholy, Sometimes tired-but never unkind, Sometimes sorrowful, but never thoughtless. Still willing to die, willing to forgive--even His enemies, persecutors, those who hated Him, Still willing to see beyond the surface. The really deep thing, I think, about Jesus is that in all of His humanity He still maintained the power (through His divinity) the crush every one of those who hurt Him, but He used the power to resist, rather than to crush--that is real strength--real meekness. No weakness, there!!!! It doesn't take much strength to retaliate, it takes much more strength to walk away, to hold your peace, and to bless those who curse you.
Still want to be like Jesus??? Still feel like sticking out your chest, and declaring like the young man, "I've got this thing under control!" Or, maybe you are like me, and you need a lot more grace--or you just won't make it!
A few last words:
Be careful of the things you treasure most. Keep Christ at the pinnacle of your heart--nothing and no one else!
Let people off the hook. Forgive them. It is not worth it. Eternity is around the corner.
Love extravagantly, and without restraint--true love, that is--AGAPE (Godly love). Take the reigns off!!!
Don't focus on what you can see with your eyes, see with your spiritual eyes--the ones God gave you when you were born again!
Don't judge others, because you will reap what you sow.
Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
Give--stop building "bigger barns".
Love and Abundant Blessings!
Lisa
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