Chapter 19
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is
rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, 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.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and
asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man
this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Meditation:
1. When Jesus remarked that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom,
the disciples were shocked. In general, people view the wealthy as blessed by
God, for they had the opportunity to do good with their wealth and so gain
merit with God.
2. Jesus had a different perspective. The more we have, the more our possessions
may possess us! It is hard for a person with many resources tied up in this
world to focus his or her attention on the next.
3. Thank God that he can do what we cannot. We can be saved for eternity. And
we can be saved from slavery to our wealth so that we can instead become
slaves of God.
4. Do I love God above all else? Is there anything hindering me to become a
true disciple of Jesus Christ?
Personal Note:
This is the passage that God spoke to me when I was moved by God into ministry. I was doing well making OK amount of money in day trading back in 2006. I felt that having wealth means that I am favored by God. I was moved by the Urbana 2006 conference. The message, worship, and God opened my eyes to see that He is the God of the poor, the God of the whole world. In fact, having excess wealth can hinder spiritual life if the heart loves wealth and comfort more than our living God. It is very tempting worship and idolize money, financial security, status. I loved the status of being a master trader. I loved the profit coming from stock trading activities. I was proud of the money I have made. I became arrogant and thought that I could rest my security in my ability to day trade. I was a believer at that time, but I lived a double life. Mon - Fri, I lived a prideful, foul, and greedy life. Sat - Sun, I tried to pretend to look like a spiritual person in fellowship and worship.
God loved me and He did not want me to stay that way. He revealed to me the joy of mission of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, the joy of centering my life around worshipping Him, the joy of having purpose and meaning in life. With trading, when the opportunities were there, I can make thousands a day and I also lost thousands another day. I do not find any meaning and purpose doing that. I did give a bit of money away for charities.
God revealed to me that if I would like to have a life. I am to deny myself, take up the cross, and follow Him. This passage got to my core. I got on my knees in my hotel room. I prayed and ask God to guide me as the decision to commit my whole life to Him is very scary. I prayed for a long time. My roomates saw me when they opened the door and saw that I was very focused (I was so focused that I didn't know they came in), they decided to have fellowship elsewhere and got me dinner. They prayed for me too, and I am thankful for their support.
I have made the decision to commit my whole life to God during the 2006 Urbana conference. Some people questioned whether I was experiencing spiritual high. I continued to pray and commit to God. I was led to equip myself in Bible School and I took up roles to serve the teens and had opportunities to experience God as He led me out of my comfort zone.
Today, I am not a master trader, but a youth pastor. I find that I made a very wide swing in my life direction. I am thankful for God's protection and guidance throughout every step of the way. I am convicted that the invitation of "Sell Everything and Come follow me" saved my life.
PS: with proper exegesis, do not confuse this passage with the command to sell everything in order to be a disciple. I didn't sell all I have. To some people, that may be God's command. To some, selling half willingly out of his heart delights God (Zecchiaus Luke 19).
What areas am I holding back?
The challenge of life is continuous. I am struggling with letting go of finance, status, choice of vocation/business. I have made the decision, but God wants me to serve and love him out of my whole heart, and not just because of duty. Please pray for my heart to love Him with everything I am.
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