October 10, 2021: Daily Dose of Discernment

“One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Mark 10:21)

Jesus is not against abundance; He is for it. At the wedding in Cana, He turned 180 gallons of water to fine wine presumably after the guests had partied and drunk for several days. He also treated at least five thousand people to all the bread and fish they could eat, and had several baskets of food left over. Talk about excess! He showed God is not frugal, and that His will is for us to have abundant life. But the way to that abundant life is not the same as what pop culture makes us believe. The world offers fleeting pleasures that often lead to emptiness and sorrow because it involves bondage to riches. This is precisely what Jesus wanted to free the rich young ruler from. He wanted him to have life indeed, and that entails generosity and freedom from an unhealthy attachment to possessions. Having godliness as a virtue would be great gain and true fulfillment for him, which would be far greater than his net worth. Selah.