Reflecting on Luke 18:18-25“You still lack one thing.” (Luke 18:22)
This man wanted to enter and experience life in God’s kingdom.
He understood that you had to be ‘good’ to enter it.
He kept the rules of the Moses Law, since this was ‘good’.
But Jesus calls into question his whole idea of goodness.
He kept the rules, but he still lacked something – what?
This man was rich, and he loved the comfort and joy of being rich.
This is not a sin itself; we were all made to enjoy the riches of God’s grace.
But this is what was missing… he wanted this for himself, not for everyone.
The blessings of God (treasure in heaven) are meant for everyone, not just for me.
If my only concern is my own salvation, then my love is for me, not God or others.
It is not a sin to be rich, or to enjoy and feast on God’s blessings!
But it is sin to do this when the person next to us is starving.
Paul describes what God’s goal is: “The goal is equality!” (2 Corinthians 8:14)
I need to be as concerned about my neighbour’s blessing as my own.
Like Jesus, am I willing to become poor to enrich others (2 Corinthians 8:9)?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, this is really hard, harder than getting a camel through the eye of a needle. I want to love like this, but I am not there yet. Help me to personally know, and inwardly grow, AND outwardly show this radical generous love for others... not just for me.
The gospelin one word is love. That love gives JOY – Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last. That is practicing the Way. When I do that it will also refect on my blessings received – to be a blessing unto others – sharing those blessings. This way, I may be a channel of His peace.