PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 19:16-24
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Matthew 19:21)
Jesus had a special place in his heart for children.
How much more for poor children, and for the poor in general.
The media has often used images of starving children to motivate compassion.
The Lord sees the poor close and personal all the time, and his heart breaks.
This man was rich, he had the luxury to spend time pondering religious questions.
All around him people struggled and starved, but he had a theological question.
Jesus challenges him to look beyond himself to the people around him.
God’s kingdom is for everyone, and everyone should enjoy the kingdom life.
If we want to be kingdom citizens, we need to reflect the king’s heart.
Kingdom citizens will care more for people, and not for themselves.
We love to debate Jesus’s words “sell your possessions” or “eye of the needle”.
But meanwhile we are missing the point: “give to the poor!”.
Who are the poor around you; who needs a boost, who needs a hand up?
No more fighting about doctrine, lets be orthodox in generosity and compassion!
PRAYER
Lord, you are speaking to me. I make a living talking religious stuff, but am I making this religious stuff live! Enough talk, ignite my heart with your generosity and compassion!
“treasure in heaven.” What is this treasure? Should I measure it in earthly terms? What is gold? What are nice possessions – is a fancy or sporty car it? To me its a bit of a turn off. I really find stuff burdensome. I appreciate good tools – a reliable car and a decent home that doesn’t require a lot of my time to maintain it. What do I treasure? I do appreciate times with friends and family and I enjoy creation which is why I like to travel on the ground – seeing and experiencing. I think the real question is, what am I obsessed about? I can’t say its the stuff in my life that the Lord has entrusted to my care but am I obsessed about the kingdom – treasure in heaven? It is a gift from the Father through Jesus – it is promised to me – so should I not be obsessed with knowing more about Jesus and my life with him and be wanting so much to be on a mission to share the Good news – especially to people who are so caught up in materialism and getting more and more? Instead to see people that are materially poor and those spiritually poor to have compassion that reaches out to help and share! Open the eyes of my heart Lord – let me be like Jesus!
Love God. Love man.
Love is the command I need to put into action by words and deeds. People need to see God’s love in action through people like you and me. Being a Jesus follower I need to put that into action, being an instrument of His peace. I need to seek His Kingdom first in all I do and say. All for Jesus and not for myself. I need to live for Jesus, serving Him always. It is certainly true that our check book will certainly show where our heart is.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
2
Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
3
Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!