Loving Others Through Giving

What hinders you from following Jesus completely?  There’s a story in the Bible about a rich young man who faced this question.  He had kept the commands of God.  He didn’t murder.  He didn’t commit adultery.  He didn’t steal, didn’t give false testimony, honored his father and mother, and loved his neighbor as himself.  He asked Jesus,

“What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.  (Matthew 19:18-21)

The young man had done so much for God, yet there was still something that held him back.  It makes me wonder what I might still be holding back.  What is hindering me from following Jesus completely?

I remember when I felt like God was calling me into full-time ministry.  I wanted to do it, felt called to do it, and was willing to give up almost anything to do it.  But as I prayed through the costs, one stood out above all the others.  Lana and I had saved up enough money to put a down-payment on our first house, a beautiful little house with a white picket fence.  I loved that little house.  I knew that if I went into full-time ministry, I might have to give it up.

As I prayed, I sensed God asking me, “Eric, do you love people more than things?  Or things more than people?”  I knew what I had to do.   I offered the house up to God as well.  Although He let me keep it for another year, I eventually had to give it up when I accepted a call to serve a church in another state.  I still miss that little house, but I’m thankful that I didn’t let it hold me back from doing what God called me to do.

I don’t think God is as concerned about the possessions we own as He is about the possessions that own us.  What is it that keeps us from following Christ completely?  What holds us back from moving forward?

In order to hold on tight to God, letting Him take us wherever He wants us to go, we may have to let go of other things in our life.  We may be holding onto good things, even godly things.  But if they hinder us from following Christ completely, we’re better off letting them go and grabbing onto Him.

Jesus concludes this passage by reminding His disciples that whatever they’ve given up to follow Him will not go unnoticed.  Peter said to Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

Jesus answered:

“I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:28-29)

A hundred times as much!  Wow!  God has so much in store for us, we can’t even imagine!  If what’s holding us back seems so huge, imagine getting back a hundred times more!  It’s almost incomprehensible.

But we can’t receive what God has in store for us when our fists are clenched around something else.  When we open our hands to give, we’re also opening them to receive.

Open your hands today.  Let God use you, and what He has given you, to bless others.  Then let Him bless you back in return.  As Jesus told His disciples earlier:  “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8b)

Prayer: Father, open my heart and my hands to give to others as You have called me to give, so that I may bless them, bless You, and even receive a blessing in return.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Eric Elder runs “The Ranch” website at www.theranch.org, an online ministry designed to give you a boost in your faith anytime.