“You cannot become my disciples without giving up everything you own.” (Luke 14:33)
I am told the following is a true event. The names have been changed to protect the foolish. A meeting took place in Oregon, in which a man claiming to represent beings from another planet contended that soon, selected people from earth would be taken to this planet. But, in order to prepare for their departure in a UFO, they would have to sell all their worldly goods. About twenty people were convinced, sold everything and followed the man out of town, never to be seen or heard from again. Can you say, “beam me up, Scotty!”
In Matthew chapter 19, we are told about a rich man who came to Christ, bragging about all the good works of the law he had accomplished. His only question was, “what else do I need?” Sadly, when Christ asked him to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and then come follow Him; the rich man walked away with great sadness. He wasn’t willing to give up his earthly treasures.
Jesus statement in Luke 14:33 is very clear. We cannot become his disciples without giving up everything we own. Does he mean strip our lives completely of all earthly comforts? No. I believe Jesus is asking us to place all material possessions and comforts on the lowest level of priority in our lives. If we would not be willing to give up everything for Christ if he asked us to, then we are not fully ready to be his disciples. The Lord never called us to be foolish or crazy, but he does call us to give up the tight grip on what is only temporary.
As we face this Christmas season, it is a good time for each of us to evaluate what we are holding on to so tightly in our life. Is there anything that we would not be willing to give up if Christ asked us to? Every once in awhile a cult leader comes along speaking of some apocalyptic event, and people give up everything to follow a lie. What are we willing to give up in order to follow the Truth?
Darlene
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