WHAT AM I RICH WITH?

"And when he heard this,

he was very sorrowful:

for he was very rich."

Luke 18:23

In this portion of Scripture in Luke 18, a rich man comes to Jesus desiring to find out what he needed to do to inherit eternal life.  When Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor, the man was discouraged and left...and Jesus let him go!

We learn that he was a good man, obeying God's Word, and believing in Jesus...but, he loved his wealth more than he loved God.  Jesus told him he lacked one thing.  It was mainly keeping the 1st Commandment.   His money had become his god.

I wonder if we came to Jesus for assurance of Heaven if he would tell us something that we are very rich in that we are loving more than Him.  Consider personality; possessions; relationships; intellect; or spirituality.  I can be so rich in poverty that I think I'm nobody and unworthy to belong to Jesus.  I can be so rich in being somebody that I have left Jesus out of my life and only want His blessings.  Consider how I spend most of my time...then see if Jesus is part of that time.  He has promised to be with us always; but are we with Him?

If He said to get rid of the thing(s) that I am rich in and come empty handed and follow Him...would I?

Here's my heart about this:

Lord, do I have anything or anyone that I am rich with, and that I haven't given to You?  I have heard Your hard words before about some things that had a hold on me and robbed me from the fullness of getting to know You and bringing You glory.  When I found myself in the pig pen and cried out to You that I wanted to become my best for You that it is possible for me to, I lost everything that wasn't my best for You.  I have never regretted the loss even though it was very difficult.  I have been blessed with so much more, and now my heart only wants more of You.

I now consider again what I am rich in...

I am rich in friendship, but they are all in You.  Wealth or poverty has no hold on me.  I have no love or desire for myself, except to be totally Yours and have Your Spirit be unhindered and radiant.

I am rich in grandchildren, and blessed they are all also Your Children.  May I only love them with Your Love and teach them to love You.

I am rich with Your blessings; help me to give them back to You as my very best to delight You and bring You glory.  Your Love is MORE than enough! Amen ~Betty

"YET LACKEST THOU ONE THING"

“Yet lackest thou one thing;

Sell all that thou hast…

And come, follow Me.” ~Jesus

DISCOURAGEMENT

A definition that I once heard or read some place:  Discouragement is disenchanted self-love.  Perhaps more mildly put is that it’s the result of a deep personal desire to do or be something that would bring great satisfaction.  It is the result of giving your very best and failing.  I don’t think it is always from self-centeredness.

My experience with discouragement is that it comes when I have exhausted myself from trying to get something that I really want. 

As I write this and try to remember some examples I realize that I have mostly reached discouragement over very simple and unimportant things.  For instance, trying to make a recipe for something I ate someplace and wanting it to taste exactly the same.  Being on a team that doesn’t care whether they win or lose…just having fun!  Not me, fun is winning!  I do not want to be part of a losing team, even if it is bowling or putt putt or volleyball!

I suppose my greatest discouragement has come from people.  People who have stopped trying, given up on themselves or a relationship or education or a job or a habit…and have shut the door to any help. 

Today, as I meditated on the Scripture above and listened to the Lord, I more clearly saw about the meaning of “all”   It wasn’t how much the rich young man had, it was about the ONE thing he did not have!  However, all that he had was more important to him than the one thing he didn’t have.  We also learn that he was a good man coming to The Good Master or Teacher.  If you read the whole story (and please do) we learn that the rich man came to Jesus wanting to know what he could do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus said “Why do you call me good?  None is good but God.”  The he quoted some of the 10 Commandments.  The young man said he had done these all his life.  Jesus said “but there’s one you lack!  Sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven:  and, come, follow Me.” 

Then we read that when he heard this, he was very sorrowful:  for he was very rich.  He was discouraged because he was a good man doing what he believed was excellent, but he wanted assurance that it was sufficient to merit him eternal life.  The one thing he lacked was the 1st Commandment:  “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  Remember, Jesus said:  “None is good but God.”  Without God you cannot be “good” enough for heaven!  The rich young man believed in Jesus as the authority on heaven.   He knew the Scripture.  He was a good man.  He didn’t want God, he already had one, he wanted rewarding…and Jesus let him go!

Lord, I do see more clearly about giving all – it’s “Come, follow Me.”  It’s not about the doing, it’s about enthusiastic devotion – being in Your Presence!  To be in Your Presence with You; sitting at Your feet; anointing You with my very best, with my all; it’s going with You into Your world.  Help me, Lord.  Fill me with Your Love.  Thank You for the assurance of eternal life because of our relationship…I am Your Child.  Amen. ~Betty