“The Things You Must Do…!”

“The Things You Must Do…!”
A rich young man wanted to know from Jesus what he “must do” to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The man said he had been doing just that since he was a boy. Jesus told him, “‘One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell and he went away sad.”
Jesus used the man’s reaction to school the disciples on “how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven…” Peter told Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you!”
It wasn’t a question, it was an imperative. Underlying Peter’s statement is what he did not say. The question I asked myself is, “Have I actually left everything to follow Jesus Christ? Monastic life was founded on the grounds of leaving everything to follow Jesus Christ. The purpose was somehow defeated when rich middlle and upper classes citizens began willing their estates and wealth to the monasteries to support their charity works. The monasteries became very wealthy; but not the monks anyway.
Jesus replied Peter by giving him the answer to the question to which his statement implied. “…no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (…and with them persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life…”(Mk.10:28-31).
While you pray for breakthroughs to achieve much for following Christ, don’t forget to follow the gospel as well. The gains are not without persecution. Every gain comes with a prize! Earlier on we said monasteries soon became very rich, but the monks were not. Why? Because they used what was passed on to them for works of charity.
Today we consider leaving everything to follow Christ more as a figurative expression, but that should not be. The rich young man could not afford to let go his riches because he was a hoarder or miser. Jesus was telling him that riches make meaning to its owner when it is used to impact the lives of others – especially the poor and needy ones.
Do not only follow Jesus Christ, follow the gospel as well. The gospel is love, kindness, hospitality, generosity, open-handedness, peace, justice, righteousness and truth. All these complement the Gospel – Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord, let my discipleship impact the lives of others in a wholistic way. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!