I love stuff, I love collecting, and the house is filled with collectible items. I've got tons of comics, books, movies, knick-knacks of all kinds. When I say 'love' I mean really like. Funny thing is, is that all that stuff is mostly just sitting around and doing nothing. But I still horde it. Anthropologists would say that it is a by product of thousands of years of evolution and our need to horde things away for when disaster strikes. I thinks its more our desire to fill things up in our lives instead of looking to God.
Think of our lives like an apartment. We rent it out, our tenant is God, and he's got the living room, kitchen, bathroom .. everything. Then one day we bring over a stack of books, and put it on his bookshelf. Then we find a cool tv, and some movies, and place it in the apartment. We don't ask God if he likes it or not, 'cause he's just renting it. Then we have pictures of our family, extended family, kids, friends, and we put them all in the apartment. God likes that, but when you invite your friends to the apartment for a party, you don't introduce them to the renter, God, because, really in the end, it's your place that your just renting out. Every day you go up to the apartment, and add more stuff inside it ... paperwork from work, tools, pet. After a month of renting the place to God, God ends up sleeping in the bathtub, because you filled his place with so much junk, that he can't even get into his bedroom. At the end of the month, you realize that "HEY, I need something from God, rent's due", but you can't reach him, because you've stuffed so much stuff into HIS apartment, that you can't even see him.
Hear we have the story of the Rich man, and really, he's a great guy. He does the right things, he has a great attitude, and really, we wouldn't mind having him over for dinner. Jesus even felt genuine love for the guy (vs. 21)
The man wanted so badly to follow Jesus, but Jesus threw down a kicker "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell, and he went away very sad, for he had many possessions. (vs. 21-22) Jesus says that 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 (vs. 25).
Some people refer to the eye of the needle to be referring to a small opening in a gate in Jerusalem. I'm not sure if this is true, as there are quite few people that dispute it. I'm seeing this as a hyperbole, similar to the whole 'log and speck' incident of Matt. 7:3 (and yes, you need to look it up. ;) )
The point is simple. If you have spent your life with the focus of getting money, and hording money, well, your focus isn't allowing God to do the work that he wants to do. He wants your reliance to be on him first.
Not saying you can't be rich and not be a Christian, but again, where is our focus.
In vs. 28 Peter speaks up (go figure) and says "But we've given everything to follow you" Check out vs 29 & 30, I find it very interesting "Yes," Jesus replied , "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property for my sake and for the Good News, will receive no in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and property-along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then" "(NLT)
This isn't about Prosperity gospel, I think Jesus is referring to the Church in Acts, where they were like family, were wealth was shared. This verse became reality. I think we dropped the ball somewhere between then and now. But that was supposed to be the picture of the Church, and yes, there is also persecution for the believer.
But our hope isn't in this world is it? We talked about this earlier in another lesson, but Jesus was making it clear that to be great in the kingdom, isn't about getting greatness here is it? So when we reflect back, how does this impact us, and the way we spend the blessings God's given us?
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