Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers covers the account of the rich young ruler who came to JESUS seeking to know how to "inherit eternal life".
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very
rich— Luke 18:23
The
rich young ruler went away expressionless with sorrow; he had not a word to
say. He had no doubt as to what Jesus said, no debate as to what it meant, and
it produced in him a sorrow that had not any words. Have you ever been there?
Has God’s word come to you about something you are very rich in — temperament,
personal affinity, relationships of heart and mind? Then you have often been
expressionless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, He will not plead,
but every time He meets you on that point He will simply repeat — “If you mean
what you say, those are the conditions.”
“Sell
all that thou hast” — undress yourself morally before God of everything that
might be a possession until you are a mere conscious human being, and then give
God that. That is where the battle is fought — in the domain of the will before
God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Himself? If
so, you are likely to hear one of His hard sayings that will produce sorrow in
you. What Jesus says is hard, it is only easy when it is heard
by those who have His disposition. Beware of allowing anything to soften a hard
word of Jesus Christ’s.
I can
be so rich in poverty, so rich in the consciousness that I am nobody, that I
shall never be a disciple of Jesus; and I can be so rich in the consciousness
that I am somebody — that I shall never be a disciple.
I LOVE this! It was NOT the fact that this young ruler had riches that caused him to sorrow, it was because his riches had him! There are so very many verses throughout the Bible that speak to financial prosperity that we know, IF we have bothered to study, that God desires for us to be prosperous and in control of our financial situation so that HE can continue to bless us as we bless others! JESUS was not in any way against this ruler being rich! JESUS Himself had so much coming into His ministry that He had to have someone 'keep the bag'! No, JESUS knew that the only thing hindering this man from becoming a true disciple was his attachment to, and his trust and confidence in, his material prosperity and the 'things' that he owned! If you do further study on these verses you will see that JESUS never told that man to give ALL of his money away! JESUS told him to sell what he had (liquidate his assets), GIVE to the poor (NOT give ALL to the poor) and follow HIM! He was so attached to his riches that he couldn't get past the idea of selling his 'things'!
Is there anything in YOUR life that takes the place of your devotion to JESUS? Anything that hinders YOU from being obedient when He tells you to do this or go there? Every believer needs to answer this very important, and very personal, question for themselves! Do whatever YOU must do to make sure that HE is your first love and # priority! Everything else in life will fall into place and you will NEVER want, because HE has promised to supply ALL of your needs, not according to the need, but according to HIS riches, and HE owns everything! (Philippians 4:19) You cannot get a more powerful and sure promise than that! Not even if you are a millionaire! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Crowns":
Shalom in Him!
