Matthew 16:24-26
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
People seem to like quoting this scripture. Pastors, mentors, teachers, those who would teach us something about God, about life, about others, or about ourselves.
Thing is, most don't tell you that it is going to be hard. They don't tell you that you're going to get angry with God about losing your life...or that it's not all sunshine and roses.
I met a good pastor today. From the start of our conversation, there were no punches pulled, no pretending things were going to get better / easier. I knew the truth, and I was told it in love, which affirmed me a great deal. All that man had to do was show up, and be who God made Him to be.
On the other hand, there's this guy:
Matthew 19:15-23
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
See, this scripture points to the heart of losing your life. What is so special about these possessions? "He had great possessions?" What made them so great? Why does this man turn away from the conversation sorrowful, instead of with urgency and exhilaration. Jesus just told him exactly what he wanted to know...right? The rich young ruler gets what he came for...but not what he wanted.
The rich young ruler defines himself by his possessions. It's part of "who He is" to himself. If you would ask him who he is, I imagine at this point he would say something about him being successful and making the right choices and that God has blessed him and that's the reason for everything. My point in this entry is this...Jesus asks him to sell his possessions not because He wants or needs this man to give to the poor; but because the rich young ruler needs to sell his possessions and give to the poor to be able to have treasure in heaven. Oh yeah...and go follow Jesus too.
The position of the possessions in the man's heart is the issue. The position of the great possessions is higher on the list than inheriting eternal life. And...don't think that just because you don't have a lot, this can't be your problem. You don't have to have lots of stuff to covet having lots of stuff - and this is a new one to me...but it's the same thing as far as your heart is concerned. Jesus wants your heart completely. The whole thing. He's not going to compete against possessions, pride, or any of that other stuff that creates a false image of you to make you feel better about how He fits into your life. Your heart needs to be full of Christ; and let the rest of what comes overflow from that.
Case & point:
Matthew 6:25-34
"25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
The rich young ruler couldn't get a grip on the fact that he wasn't in control of his own life. His attitude then reflected that his heart didn't know how to change. He leaves sorrowful because he doesn't know how to do what Jesus has just asked of him. He wants eternal life, but can't do what is asked of him. Let me say again that is isn't that he could "go sell all his possessions and give to the poor" it is that he can't change his heart. Right now, his heart is full of things he's done to earn his way to eternal life. He's fulfilled all the commandments, yet he still comes asking what he needs to do? What more does he need to do?
Another point is this: He is told to do something He cannot do. He can't make his heart change. God is the one in the business of changing hearts. Now I've heard mixed reviews on this, and my own personal verdict is still out. Some tell me that you can change your own heart, others tell me that it's God's job. I guess thinking about it, it is a co-operation of sorts. It's not that you really "do" anything, but it is that you let the Holy Spirit shape your heart however God sees fit. Therefore, you are shaped, your life is shaped, your words are shaped - by God for His purposes to His glory. That puts God on center stage, and not you...which is how it should be.
The rich young ruler couldn't give up the stage IN HIS HEART to Jesus. Can you?
