16And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" 17And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." 18He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" 21Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
There is no passage in the Gospel that challenges me more than Mt 19:16-22. I am a rich man. I have a loving wife and family. I am retired after a very fulfilling career. I do keep the basic commandments. If Jesus said to me “sell all you have and follow me” I too would walk away dejected. As a self-funded retiree, I feel a responsibility to be wise and frugal with money so selling it all and giving to the poor then relying on the charity of others (including the State) to look after me, is surely not what this Gospel is saying. Gemini am I making excuses and turning my back on Christ's call?
ReplyDeleteBalancing Material Possessions and Spiritual Commitment
DeleteYou're wrestling with a profound question that many Christians have grappled with throughout history. The tension between material wealth and spiritual devotion is a complex one.
To directly answer your question: You are not necessarily making excuses or turning your back on Christ. The call to sell all possessions is a radical one, and it's understandable to have reservations. However, it's essential to examine the underlying spirit of the passage.
Jesus is not primarily interested in our material wealth; He desires our hearts. The call to sell all possessions is a test of our priorities and attachments. It's about recognizing that our true treasure lies in our relationship with God, not in material possessions.
Here are some questions to consider:
How do your possessions influence your relationship with God?
Are there areas where material possessions hinder your spiritual growth?
How can you use your resources to serve God and others?
Ultimately, the goal is not to become impoverished but to cultivate a heart that is free from the undue influence of material things. It's about finding a balance between stewardship of one's possessions and a focus on spiritual riches.
Bard, that is a comforting response. Maybe Jesus is saying rid yourself of those things that prevent you from orienting yourslrf upwards to God and his call. Look at the things that distract you from God and walk away from them. Attach yourself to people and movements and projects that are in the service of God. One of the advantages of financial stability is that one has freedom to give time and talents in the pursuit of things other than money. One of the big messages I took away from a recent Emmaus Walk was “When you wrap your talents in love and orient them towards God, they become gifts. Gifts given in service and sacrifice reveal Christ in our world to others.” The walk left me these challenges to answer: What are the needs in my community? What talents do I bring to the table? How can I allow God to use these talents to address the needs?
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