"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Mark 10: 17, 21-22)
During Lent, we've been focusing on the theme, "We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us." This is part of our "40 Days of Giving" emphasis (2016 is the Year of Giving).
Giving entails so much more than our financial offerings. Giving involves our time, our talent, and our treasure. And at the heart of all of this is a seemingly impossible call.
A pastor friend of mine once preached for me on a Stewardship Sunday at the congregation I served in Cincinnati. I will never forget him saying in his sermon that God does not call for 10% of our hearts, 10% of our lives, or even 10% of our treasure. In fact, God wants 100%!
Jesus makes the same call today in the story with the man who tradition calls "the rich young ruler." Now, be sure, this is not about everyone giving all their money away, becoming paupers, and then working for free. The Bible is clear that poverty is something we should help people avoid through our generosity. Being poor, except for specific cases of those called to live in poverty as part of a vocation, is something Christians are called to work toward eliminating. So, then, what could giving 100% to God -- even our money -- possibly mean?
Living our lives, all aspects of our lives, in God-pleasing ways is what matters to Jesus. Do we acquire our money, regard our money, manage our money, and spend our money in God pleasing ways? Perhaps the rich young ruler had accumulated his money in ways not pleasing to God? Perhaps he regarded his wealth as his own, not giving God credit for his blessings? Perhaps he managed and spent his money in ways that were contradictory to his self-professed faithfulness (vs. 18-20)?
Jesus was inviting the rich, young ruler into a new relationship with God. However, for him, his wealth was a stumbling block to such new relationship. The question for us this day is what would Jesus say is getting in the way of us giving 100% of ourselves, our lives to God?
Perhaps its our wealth. Perhaps our status. Perhaps our position or profession. Perhaps its addiction. Perhaps its something as beautiful as our family, spouse, or children. Whatever it is, Jesus asks us to replace it with a deeper relationship with God.
This is difficult, no doubt, as evidenced by the rich, young ruler going away grieving. But, Jesus also tells us, such commitment and discipleship will be blessed beyond measure and we will find treasure of another kind, treasure through God that will never and can never disappoint.
God of grace, shape my life, my giving, and my heart toward you in all ways. Amen.
Giving entails so much more than our financial offerings. Giving involves our time, our talent, and our treasure. And at the heart of all of this is a seemingly impossible call.
A pastor friend of mine once preached for me on a Stewardship Sunday at the congregation I served in Cincinnati. I will never forget him saying in his sermon that God does not call for 10% of our hearts, 10% of our lives, or even 10% of our treasure. In fact, God wants 100%!
Jesus makes the same call today in the story with the man who tradition calls "the rich young ruler." Now, be sure, this is not about everyone giving all their money away, becoming paupers, and then working for free. The Bible is clear that poverty is something we should help people avoid through our generosity. Being poor, except for specific cases of those called to live in poverty as part of a vocation, is something Christians are called to work toward eliminating. So, then, what could giving 100% to God -- even our money -- possibly mean?
Living our lives, all aspects of our lives, in God-pleasing ways is what matters to Jesus. Do we acquire our money, regard our money, manage our money, and spend our money in God pleasing ways? Perhaps the rich young ruler had accumulated his money in ways not pleasing to God? Perhaps he regarded his wealth as his own, not giving God credit for his blessings? Perhaps he managed and spent his money in ways that were contradictory to his self-professed faithfulness (vs. 18-20)?
Jesus was inviting the rich, young ruler into a new relationship with God. However, for him, his wealth was a stumbling block to such new relationship. The question for us this day is what would Jesus say is getting in the way of us giving 100% of ourselves, our lives to God?
Perhaps its our wealth. Perhaps our status. Perhaps our position or profession. Perhaps its addiction. Perhaps its something as beautiful as our family, spouse, or children. Whatever it is, Jesus asks us to replace it with a deeper relationship with God.
This is difficult, no doubt, as evidenced by the rich, young ruler going away grieving. But, Jesus also tells us, such commitment and discipleship will be blessed beyond measure and we will find treasure of another kind, treasure through God that will never and can never disappoint.
God of grace, shape my life, my giving, and my heart toward you in all ways. Amen.
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