Fear of Losing

Scripture: When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:22-27

Observation: This commonly-referenced teaching from Jesus often focuses on the young, rich man who is told to sell all his possessions, becomes sad, and thus Jesus indicates it is hard for the rich to be saved. The teaching is often about the difficulty of sacrifice. However, there is another meaning here.

Jesus is actually telling the rich young man "try to buy your way into heaven by selling absolutely everything you have." He then points out that such an approach to salvation is impossible - like passing a camel through the eye of a needle. However ... God has another way!

The young man was told "you lack one thing" then told to give up everything. It was NOT the giving up of everything he lacked, it was the second part of the instructions ... come, follow Jesus!! The young man feared doing that one thing because of all his other possessions. Selling his riches would not enable salvation, but holding onto them got in the way of it.

Application: I follow Jesus, so what elements of my earthly life get in the way of my faith? The answer comes down to those items I'm afraid to lose. As I have said before, those things revolve around my family and what I have that makes my wife and children secure. Yes, I don't want to lose my job that pays for our house and tuition costs, which also means I don't want to lose my status/rate of pay. And I don't want to lose our house.

However, I also don't want to lose my free time, some of my recreation, our travel and freedom and money affords us. These are the selfish items that Jesus could reasonably ask of me. As a follower of Jesus, I need to prepare to give them up in order to make room for his call and work.

Prayer: Jesus, I know that I am saved through my faith in you. Thank you SO much for your amazing sacrifice, which bought me a priceless gift I could never earn and do not deserve! Please give me the courage to follow you deeper and deeper every day, and so I may better serve you here on earth. Amen.