Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” MT 19:23-30
Jesus reminds us that it is easy to get distracted by our possessions. We cannot take anything with us when we die. Jesus is saying it is difficult for one who has many possessions to enter the Kingdom of God unless they renounce their possessions. For some this may be their call for others who are not allowing their possessions to get in the way of their relationship with Jesus it is not their call. The main point is that possessions and human power can never come before Jesus and mean nothing in the next life. We must also become poor in spirit. We must recognize God is big and we are small. We need God, He does not need us. Humility is the greatest weapon against Satan. Jesus answers Peter by saying their is a reward for giving up possessions or not allowing them to control our lives, eternal life, the heart’s greatest desire. Last, Jesus says it does not matter when we renounce our possessions, early in life or later, He is always waiting with open arms. This cannot be planned obviously. If we make a decision to renounce our possessions later in life and live how we want now, it does not apply to you. It is those who do not know about Jesus or find Him until later in life. I believe today’s most difficult challenge is our cell phones and game systems. These possessions become time vampires and major distractions to our destination, heaven. Unless we are using them to help us reach heaven because their are many good apps and websites that direct us and inspire us to do good.
Today’s challenge: Spend the entire day without your cell phone or playing video games. Can you take this with you when you die? God gave you the power to be in control of the possession not the possession to be in control of you. Take control or your possessions with discipline and self-control.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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