The Tyranny of Possessions

  Photo Credit: the bridge

Pastor Charles spoke to us Sunday morning about Jesus and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22), which is one of the saddest pieces of dialogue in the Bible. Although the young man had lived an honest and upright life, he still lacked one thing to have perfection. We know our world's definition of perfection well, but in this case Jesus was talking about perfection in Him - which means completeness, not being without flaws or blemishes. Jesus knew this young man's motives and he knew his heart. Jesus was also well aware of this man's weakness, which was exposed upon his response to Jesus' instructions to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow him.

Although this young man proudly proclaimed he had followed the six commandments Jesus listed, by his response he violated the first and greatest commandment - which was to not have any gods before the Almighty God we serve. Turns out this man's wealth was his god, his idol, and he would not give it up.

Should all believers who are well to do sell everything they own? Certainly not. The message for us here is to be willing to give up anything if God asks us to. Perhaps it is not in the form of wealth at all. It could very well be that something we need to "sell" is something such as spending less of our free time in things that are pleasing to our flesh and spend more of our free time devoted to the things of God, in prayer, and in his Word.

Just as God can bring light out of darkness, people and things God has blessed us with can keep us far from him if we cling to them too tightly. Let us recognize our blessings for the blessings from God that they are. Let us also keep them in their proper temporal perspective and not let them be our gods, or we may stand to miss further blessings from the one God in the future.

Most importantly, allow me to challenge us all to keep God in his rightful, supernatural perspective. It's my prayer that we all can be ready to put aside whatever he may ask when (not if) he calls us to a better way.