Luke 18:18-30

Those who cling to the treasures of this world are unable to cling fully to Jesus. If you place anything above Jesus, you are following a false god.

Luke 18:18-30

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

Today's passage from Luke 18 is a longer one. But the Word of God itself is far more valuable than anything I might say about it, so please take the time to read it through today. The Word of God is powerful and alive and is a most precious gift to us.

"And a ruler asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' And he said, 'All these I have kept from my youth.' When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, 'How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' Those who heard it said, 'Then who can be saved?' But he said, 'What is impossible with man is possible with God.' And Peter said, 'See, we have left our homes and followed you.' And he said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.'" (Luke 18:18-30)

This is a tragic story of a man who chose his earthly treasures over the ultimate treasure. Those who cling to the treasures of this world are unable to cling fully to Jesus, and we must cling fully to Jesus. Interestingly, one of the commandments that Jesus did not list when speaking with the man was the first one: "You shall have no other gods before me." The man claims to have followed all the commandments that Jesus listed. However, in asking him to give up his wealth and follow Jesus, the Lord demonstrates how this man may have followed other commandments, but he has allowed another "god" to be given his worship: the false idol of material possessions. He had placed this false god before the One True God and in doing so had hindered himself from following Jesus.

This man's problem was not money itself. His problem was the way that His wealth was too important to him, such that he would choose to retain his material comforts over following Jesus. I love the way Thabiti Anyabwile puts it: "He not only had wealth, his wealth had him."

Is there anything that if Jesus asked you to give up, you would refuse? Might I humbly suggest that if you can identify something, that this thing has become an idol in your heart. Remember: Abraham was willing to sacrifice even his long awaited and beloved only son upon the command of the Lord.

And I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the amazing promise that is given at the end of this passage. Following Jesus will cause us to have to give up many things. But praise be to God: He is worth it! Furthermore, there are abundant blessings coming in heaven for those who sacrifice for the name of the Lord. Nothing that the Lord calls you to give up is in vain. The Lord will bless you for this in the age to come. He is worth your everything. Have you surrendered everything to Jesus? Take some time today to ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal anything to which you are clinging too closely. May the Lord show you that He is supremely worthy of all you have, and may you not let anything stand in the way of following Jesus.