A really rich man walked up to the religious leader and asked: “Sir, what else do I need to do? I’m already a good guy but I want eternal life. I can do anything. Did I mention I’ve always lived a really good life? So, what should I do?” And the leader replied, “Sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow me.” “Everything?”
“Yes. Everything.”
“My ranch in Montana, the home in Italy, my beach house in California, the condo in Cancun?”
“Dump 'em!”
“Okay, but I was going to take a few trips this year. The Greek Islands cruise, the African safari, and the trip to Bora Bora?”
“Forget about it!”
“Okay, but can I keep the Mercedes and the Hummer and the Porsche and the BMW?”
“Sell 'em! Take the money and give it to the poor.”
And the man was really sad. He was very rich. As he walked away, he said to himself, “But I can’t give away everything I have. It’s impossible!”
Does God require that we give up all our money and possessions when we accept His gift of salvation? Of course not! But in the case of this wealthy young man, Jesus knew his money was going to be a big problem. He would have a lot of trouble placing his confidence in God alone because he had always depended on his bank account.
Jesus deliberately used hyperbole to describe the man’s inwards struggle when He said, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24)
Money and possessions can get in the way of our surrender to Jesus by faith. So can the security of a full-ride scholarship or a good job. But God offers a way of true success. Our attempts to enter heaven on our own merit is impossible.” Apart from God’s grace, none of us can ever be saved, but “with God all things are possible.” – Cindy Kasper
REFLECTION
What good things have I done that I’m hoping will guarantee a place in heaven for me? How do I balance that belief with Isaiah 64:6? RESOURCE : Who Is This Man Who Says He’s God? www.discoveryseries.org/q0205
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Today Verses : Matthew 19:21-26
“Yes. Everything.”
“My ranch in Montana, the home in Italy, my beach house in California, the condo in Cancun?”
“Dump 'em!”
“Okay, but I was going to take a few trips this year. The Greek Islands cruise, the African safari, and the trip to Bora Bora?”
“Forget about it!”
“Okay, but can I keep the Mercedes and the Hummer and the Porsche and the BMW?”
“Sell 'em! Take the money and give it to the poor.”
And the man was really sad. He was very rich. As he walked away, he said to himself, “But I can’t give away everything I have. It’s impossible!”
Does God require that we give up all our money and possessions when we accept His gift of salvation? Of course not! But in the case of this wealthy young man, Jesus knew his money was going to be a big problem. He would have a lot of trouble placing his confidence in God alone because he had always depended on his bank account.
Jesus deliberately used hyperbole to describe the man’s inwards struggle when He said, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24)
Money and possessions can get in the way of our surrender to Jesus by faith. So can the security of a full-ride scholarship or a good job. But God offers a way of true success. Our attempts to enter heaven on our own merit is impossible.” Apart from God’s grace, none of us can ever be saved, but “with God all things are possible.” – Cindy Kasper
REFLECTION
What good things have I done that I’m hoping will guarantee a place in heaven for me? How do I balance that belief with Isaiah 64:6? RESOURCE : Who Is This Man Who Says He’s God? www.discoveryseries.org/q0205
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Today Verses : Matthew 19:21-26
