The
rich young ruler ran up to Jesus and asked him how he could get eternal
life. Jesus told him first that he
needed to keep the commandments God gave Moses. Being the good, young Jewish
man he was he replied that of course he’d kept them since he was a boy.
Mark said that Jesus looked hard at
him…and loved him. He looked hard at him…and loved him.
Have you asked the same question…and
had Jesus look hard at you? Have you heard him tell you to keep the
commandments and then knowing what’s in your heart instruct you to let it all
go? Have you heard him tell you to have a garage sale? Have you heard him speak
to you about giving the proceeds to the homeless shelter?
Have you heard his word to you… and
felt it cut through your spirit and soul? Have you known or realized that
nothing is hidden from God? Everything is exposed. He is the one we’re all
accountable to.
So, why do we find it almost
impossible to let go of our “stuff?” All
of us, I believe, have things we just can’t give up. It may be physical things
or it may be habits we feel we need just to get through the day. We all have
them. And just like Jesus told the young man he’s telling us we need to let
them go.
Why do you think we can’t let go of
our stuff? God knows our hearts and souls. We know that…but even with that we
can’t let go. Why?
If we believe, if we trust in God, if
we believe his Word, then why can’t we take that one step and release our hold
on the “stuff” in our lives?
Have you ever thought, “Why doesn’t He
just take it all away?” Friends, maybe he does…sometimes. Look at Job. He lost
everything but his life and his wife.
He couldn’t understand why. He
questioned God. He adamantly requested an audience with Him. His friends came
and sat with him and counseled and questioned and kind of told him it must have
been something he did that God didn’t like.
They would never have believed that
God would allow something like this to take place just as a test or proof of
how good someone was.
Deep down Job still trusted in God and
his love. God’s Spirit was cutting away all that “stuff” until his word could
be felt by Job’s spirit and soul.
Do you suppose God does that to people
today? Do you think he tests us today?
Think about this… do you we hold on
tight to our “stuff?” Do you think our “stuff” gets in the way of our
relationship with God, with Jesus, with the Spirit? Does our “stuff” keep us
from truly knowing the kingdom of God?
If our “stuff” is keeping us from what
God would have us experience, and I believe it does, then what should we do?
Jesus told the young man to sell his possessions and give the money to the
poor.
I think all of us should take an
inventory of our “stuff.” We should go
home or sit here and think about what we can’t let go of and then ask ourselves
why it has such a hold on us; why we believe it’s necessary for existence.
Just so you don’t think you’re alone
in this let me tell you I have “stuff.” “Stuff” I find it almost impossible to
let go of. Does it keep me from knowing
the triune God? It probably does. So,
what am I doing?
I talk with God…a lot. I think about
the “stuff” I hold onto, that holds onto me, and I consider letting it go. And
then I pray some more, and read the Word, and just sit and wait on God.
At some point we have to release our
hold on the “stuff” that keeps us from experiencing the joy of being
continually in God’s presence.
Friends, He understands our
weaknesses. He’s there for us but it’s our decision to make. It’s up to us to
leave our bag of “stuff” at the cross and then lean on Him.
You know maybe our religious sisters
and brothers like Henri Nouwen and Mother Teresa had the right idea. They
joined the religious order and trusted in God to provide for their basic needs.
And then they went into God’s creation to serve the helpless and the poor. And
neither of them lacked anything…and they contributed to our society by serving
with love and honesty and openness. Yes, they too struggled with “stuff” but
they also trusted and hoped in God.
Along with Jesus and Job and all the
prophets and the Apostles they help us understand how good our God is. They
demonstrate to us that it can be done. There are others too, young folks who
live in communes, holding everything in common. They are trying to live as the
disciples did, as Paul, Barnabas, and Silas did and focus on doing God’s work
without the hindrance of any “stuff.” Still, they struggle with getting it right.
There is life and happiness and
contentment and joy without “stuff.” And there is that promise of eternal life.
Part of the problem could be is that
we try to do all this by our own willpower. What did Jesus tell his disciples?
He said there’s “no chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself.
Every chance if you let God do it.”
Maybe that’s what’s holding us back. We’re trying to do all by ourselves
and therefore we’re failing.
So, friends, how are we going to
proceed this week? Know that whatever we let go of this week God is right
beside us as we go through withdrawal from our “stuff.” He is all we need and
his yoke isn’t heavy. Put your trust in him.
Thanks be to God for his loving grace. Amen.
