In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus was instructing His twelve disciples about how they should go about their work.
One of the things some people puzzle over is his instructions in verses 9 and 10, “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff…”
Not only did Jesus want them to learn to completely depend on Him, He also knew how our possessions control our lives. It seems the more stuff we accumulate, the more time we spend protecting, worrying about, and obsessing over our possessions. Jesus knew that if His disciples didn’t possess a lot of earthly goods, their minds would not be overtaken with thought or worry about their possessions.
In Mark chapter 10, a rich man comes to Jesus seeking advice about what to do with his life. When Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, the Bible tells us, “[Jesus speaking] ‘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.’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!’ Jesus knew that this young man didn’t just “have” much possessions, but his possessions “had him”. He valued them more than he valued following Jesus.
The more stuff we possess in this world, the harder it becomes for us to truly follow Jesus Christ. We have to learn that all of the stuff we accumulate in this life is just that – “stuff”. It won’t save us, it can’t help us in times of trouble, it can’t protect us, and it doesn’t care at all about us. Yes we too often place more value on accumulating and keeping it than we place on gaining a better relationship with Jesus Christ.
I used to like going to nice stores and looking at all of the products and dreaming about when I’d be able to purchase this or that. And when I first started making enough money where I had extra money to spend – I started buying stuff just because I wanted it. Well, thankfully it didn’t take me long to realize having all this “stuff” in my possession didn’t make me any happier than I was before. Now I don’t even go to a store unless I need to buy something. And when I’m in a store I don’t look at all the stuff I can’t afford and wish I could buy it…it’s just stuff…I don’t need it, and I find myself not even wanting it now. It has no value to me.
I found that the ONLY thing I NEED and TRUTHFULLY WANT is a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I want to KNOW HIM better, I want to see Him work in amazing ways in my life. And I’ve found that no matter what I have to “give up” in order to gain Him, is WELL WORTH IT!
In Luke 12:15 Jesus was teaching, and the Bible tells us, “Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
Life IS NOT about possessions. Someone once asked a multi-billionaire how much more money he needed to accumulate before he would have “enough”. The man replied, “Just a little more…” And it’s always just a little more of this world that we want or seek after when we take our eyes off of what we TRULY NEED.
Jesus Christ must be what we value most. After all – He is EVERYTHING WE NEED!