Mark 10: 17-31 v 31 “Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
“A man came running” who was a devoted follower of the commandments, as he had followed them since he was a boy. Jesus loved him. He wanted to make sure he would have eternal life. Jesus said he was missing one thing. He told him to sell everything and give it to the poor, then follow me ( Jesus) .
The man went away sad as he had a lot of property.
In all of us, just as this man in todays bible reading, was attached to his property, it can be difficult to give up our “stuff”. I know I have papers and “things” that I have a hard time getting rid of even though they spend all their time stuffed in a box or draw. Jesus was aware of this man’s problem and that he was missing something. Jesus gave him the solution. Sell everything, give it to the poor and follow me. Sadly, he went away instead of following Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t just want obedience to the laws, living a good life, although he loved this man for doing that. He realized that the man loved his property more than he loved God. He was missing something in his devotion to God. To find the joy in Jesus, he had to give up the love for his property.
Can you give up being busy to spend a quiet five minutes in prayer every day?
Can you give up travelling as much and spend more time reading the bible ?
Are you missing something and holding on to something that stops you following Jesus?
Prayer: Holy Father open our hearts to your divine love and realization that you are all we need. Help us to let go of the “stuff’ in our lives that keeps us from following you to the eternal life that you promise. Amen
CrossWalk 