“Yet lackest thou one thing;
Sell all that thou hast…
And come, follow Me.
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
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