Giving Up
The Rich Young Ruler - Mark 10:17-22
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
I am writing this devotional as fast as I can, why? Many of us the last few days have been weathering a historic winter storm in central Texas and the electricity to our house has been shut off without notice many times. So, I am desperately trying to write, upload, and distribute while we still have power and Wifi!
But this storm has reminded me of something critical as we start this season of Lent with Ash Wednesday...
Some things are optional and other things are essential.
When it's 3 degrees outside;
Watching movies on Netflix and listening to music on Spotify...optional.
Heating your home, cooking meals, water to drink...essential.
We all have been brutally reminded of this for the last 72 hours. It has refocused us on the most critical parts of life, what is necessary for survival.
I wonder if that's what Jesus was getting at with the rich young ruler?
He had so much going for him in his life, but he was missing what was essential. So Jesus stripped it all away with a simple request and refocused his whole life.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Give it all up and follow me!
He had everything except what was essential, the thing that was necessary for true life, "follow me."
We need a reminder too.
It has been the tradition of Christians to "give up" certain things for the season of Lent. It reminds of what Jesus gave up for us through his life, ministry, and sacrifice on the cross.
It's a stripping away of what's optional and focusing on what's essential.
The challenge for all of us is the same challenge as for the rich young ruler;
Do you trust Jesus enough with your life to give up what's optional so you can receive what is essential?
I'm working on it, will you join me?
I look forward to this Lenten journey with you all at DSPC, and now I'm giving up on this devotional before the power gives up on me.
Blessings,
Pastor Mitch
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
I am writing this devotional as fast as I can, why? Many of us the last few days have been weathering a historic winter storm in central Texas and the electricity to our house has been shut off without notice many times. So, I am desperately trying to write, upload, and distribute while we still have power and Wifi!
But this storm has reminded me of something critical as we start this season of Lent with Ash Wednesday...
Some things are optional and other things are essential.
When it's 3 degrees outside;
Watching movies on Netflix and listening to music on Spotify...optional.
Heating your home, cooking meals, water to drink...essential.
We all have been brutally reminded of this for the last 72 hours. It has refocused us on the most critical parts of life, what is necessary for survival.
I wonder if that's what Jesus was getting at with the rich young ruler?
He had so much going for him in his life, but he was missing what was essential. So Jesus stripped it all away with a simple request and refocused his whole life.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Give it all up and follow me!
He had everything except what was essential, the thing that was necessary for true life, "follow me."
We need a reminder too.
It has been the tradition of Christians to "give up" certain things for the season of Lent. It reminds of what Jesus gave up for us through his life, ministry, and sacrifice on the cross.
It's a stripping away of what's optional and focusing on what's essential.
The challenge for all of us is the same challenge as for the rich young ruler;
Do you trust Jesus enough with your life to give up what's optional so you can receive what is essential?
I'm working on it, will you join me?
I look forward to this Lenten journey with you all at DSPC, and now I'm giving up on this devotional before the power gives up on me.
Blessings,
Pastor Mitch
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