Matt 19:21
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

What was the problem with this seemingly well rounded young man? He apparently lived a holy life, exemplifying what it meant to be a good Jew. The problem was, in a nut shell, he didn’t need Jesus. He was more than able to provide all he ever needed, or wanted for himself. When we trust in the riches of our hands, whatever form they may be, we don’t need God. That is the very nature of idolatry. I saw this all the time when I lived in India. Whenever there was any kind of call for prayer, people by the hundreds, thousands even, would come out of nowhere to be blessed. These were predominately hindu people, who by it’s very nature, worshipped many various Gods. They were more than happy to except Jesus. The problem is, they just added him to their collection. Whats one more God when you already worship at least 5 or 6. “Well, this has nothing to do with us here in America” you might say. But doesn’t it? How many things do we have in our lives, that fill a need, or take a place that God is supposed to fill. How do we know if something is in the wrong place in our lives? If God asked you to give it up, lay it aside, or put it on hold could you? Could you quit a job, cut off a relationship, give up on a dream, or even a ministry if God says it’s not part of his will or timing for your life? Or how about something as trivial as a T.V. Show or movie, or, God forbid, a CD you love so much. All of these things have the potential to become idols in our lives. Something that takes God’s place in some area ( emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc..) of our lives. When we can fill every empty space, there is no space left for God, and ultimately, we don’t need him. That was the rich young mans problem. not that he had money, but that his money was to important, more important even than being with the Son of God himself. Wow! If Jesus is calling you, and asking you to let go of something, trust me, what he’s offering will be so much more than what he’s asking you to leave behind.

Matt 19:29
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.

Rich in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Josh