Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
A young man approached Jesus and asked how to be part of the Kingdom of God. Jesus explained that the man needed to love God with his whole being and love others like he loved himself. The man was satisfied he was doing that, so Jesus added one more thing: sell everything you have and then follow me.
Today’s verse is devastating: But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
The problem here isn’t that the man had a lot of stuff. The problem is that his stuff had him. He was so gripped by his possessions that he walked away from serving Christ!
I have attended many autopsies and funerals. I have seen people young and old after they had left this life, and they all had one thing in common: whatever they used to have didn’t do them any good anymore.
I have checked, there is not a bumper hitch on a hearse. You really can’t take it with you.
Over the years God has blessed me and my family. The things we own are just things. Nothing I own or have is more important than my relationship with God. Nothing. Not my wife, my kids, my RV. Nothing.
What about you? What is keeping you from following Jesus? Whatever it is, it needs to take a back seat to him.
Today’s Readings: 1 Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19