Sunday September 14th, 2014 14th Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 19:21-35
Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving? (versus 21-22)
If this text doesn’t make us squirm, nothing will. For this young man to be perfect, he had to sell everything, give all the proceeds to the poor and follow Jesus. As much as he wanted to follow Jesus, the cost was too much.
Couldn’t Jesus have lightened it a bit? Couldn’t he have asked for 10 percent, after taxes even? Couldn’t he have suggested investing the money wisely and using it to help the poor for a long time? Could have. Didn’t.
The point is, the cost of following Jesus is steep. Not all of us are asked to give away all that we have. Not all of us are asked to leave home, family and country, and go where Jesus shows us. But one thing Jesus asks of us all is this: Jesus asks to be number one in our lives, before family, work and leisure. And that is tough. So tough, many just walk away.
The joy is that with the call comes the promise of Jesus to walk with us. And that makes it doable.
Thank you for your call, Lord Jesus. May we always follow you. Amen. — DAB
Contributed by Give then Follow
If this text doesn't make us squirm, nothing will. For this young man to be perfect, he had to sell everything, give all the proceeds to the poor and follow Jesus. As much as he wanted to follow Jesus, the cost was too much.
Couldn't Jesus have lightened it a bit? Couldn't he have asked for 10 percent, after taxes even? Couldn't he have suggested investing the money wisely and using it to help the poor for a long time? Could have. Didn't.
The point is, the cost of following Jesus is steep. Not all of us are asked to give away all that we have. Not all of us are asked to leave home, family and country, and go where Jesus shows us. But one thing Jesus asks of us all is this: Jesus asks to be number one in our lives, before family, work and leisure. And that is tough. So tough, many just walk away.
The joy is that with the call comes the promise of Jesus to walk with us. And that makes it doable.
