PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 18:18-30
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.” (Luke 18:23)
Would you rather have many people thankful in heaven for how you blessed them?
Or fewer people thankful because you kept most of your wealth for yourself.
To use most of your money for yourself, or to use most of it for others?
In this story Jesus is revealing my heart, my deeper love.
To be honest, I have a hard time being generous with others.
Don’t get me wrong, I give a percentage of my wealth… but that is the problem.
My wealth… my assumption that it is mostly mine to spend on myself.
Like this rich man, I am trying to find the formula for faith and finances.
How much do I have to do, how much do I have to give, how much is enough?
Jesus rejects the ‘how much is enough’ focus, because that focus is selfish.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…” (Luke 18:25)
I admit that what Jesus says is very hard for me, and I am wrestling with it.
The Lord is working on my heart, challenging my priorities and loves, but I am slow.
Unlike this man, I will not walk away from Jesus… but I do feel like a camel.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you that it is possible for me to be saved too. Keep on challenging me with the joy of the kingdom, until I care more for blessing others than for blessing myself.
It’s a matter of priority. Do I set my concerns of my earthly wealth – my stuff and my securities – etc. give first priority. I have to give them and dedicate that to the Lord – I am just a steward. But I got to be careful not be an obsessed steward. Is Jesus asking me to go sell it all – I believe so – I have to see that I am not the owner but He is. If my stuff gets in the way, my selfishness, I have to repent and give it up. I put myself and my possessions at his disposal. What amazes me how God continues to provide and I am entrusted with more to steward. Sometimes I feel I want to get rid of it all and live real simple. Yet a mechanic without tools is limited. Whatever the Lord entrusts to me needs to be useful for His Kingdom!
Where your treasure is, there is also your heart. The rich ruler placed his security on his wealth. My blessings need to be shared. I need to be a blessing to others. My security is in the Lord. My wealth is to be used in kingdom service whether monies. materials or talents. I need to be a channel of His peace.
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.