My Stuff – Til the Day I Die
My Stuff
TIL THE DAY I DIE
The fires in California have been devastating! Have you seen the pictures? Look at the one from Paradise, CA. The only thing that compares is the damage I have seen from F-5 tornadoes in tornado alley. There is nothing left. It is ironic, our culture believes that accumulating lots of possessions is “paradise.” When in reality stuff can be taken away from us in a moment whether by natural disaster, an accident, our foolishness or someone’s evil intent.
Prayer: “God, today help me not to put my stuff above you.”
Grab Your Bible: Read Mark 10:17-25.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
What a tragedy! This dude had it all. He was young and rich. And he wanted to follow Jesus, but his “Til the Day I Die”, his “I cannot live without” was literally his stuff. He walked away from Jesus because he loved his stuff more. Jesus was not against his stuff. Owning stuff is not wrong. Jesus just would not allow this man’s stuff to rule his heart. Jesus is the only one worthy to rule our heart…THE ONLY ONE.
Your stuff will break, fail, get old, or burn and be replaced. Jesus will not. Don’t let your stuff stir your passions more than Jesus.
Prayer: God, thank you that you are the only one worthy to rule my heart. Forgive me when I let my love for stuff/possessions control me. I do not want to be like this young man who gave up Jesus because he could not let go of his stuff. Jesus, let my greatest passion for you.