8th Day of Lent
A Big "If"
If you would be perfect.... come follow me.  Matthew 19:21

By this 8th day of Lent in this devotional study, it's pretty obvious that to be a follower of Jesus is no easy thing.  We'll continue to see this in the days to come.  I remember writing a paper in seminary related to my faith and I made the mistake of saying something like, "I've become comfortable in my faith and understandings."  The professor, rightly so, chastised me for suggesting that faith can become comfortable.  It's clear from what we've been reading that the life of a disciple was never intended to be comfortable.  If we're getting comfortable in our faith and actions, maybe we better take a look at what we believe and what our life of faith really means.

In today's lesson, a rich young man is challenged by Jesus to sell his possessions and give his money to the poor.  Then, he could come and follow.  I believe this is the only example in the Bible where someone was invited to follow Jesus, who made the decision not to to do so.  The problem was he had become comfortable with his many possessions, and was unwilling to give them up.  His possessions were more important than accepting the call of Jesus.  His possessions and become his god.

I don't read this story as some kind of call to be perfect, as if giving everything we own away would make us perfect.  It would not.  Rather, I read it as being willing to share what we have with others.  It's a warning to not let our possessions possess us.  It's certainly not wrong to work, make money, have a place to live, have food on the table, etc.  We need all of that for our economy and a healthy society.  But what's wrong is when we hold on to everything and think only of ourselves.  That's the sin.  I can't tell you what is the right or wrong amount a person should own.  Nor can I tell you the right or wrong amount to give.  But I can say we have the responsibility to share what we have with those in need.  Sometimes we need to be made uncomfortable, recognizing there are many people in the world living far more uncomfortably than ourselves.