Thoughts for the Day

Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I have recently been watching a series of programmes made by Ben Fogle who visits individuals and families living off grid somewhere in the wild. It's fascinating to see how little they need, basically water and shelter, and if possible some way of producing minimal electricity, though the recent person who lived in a swamp drank horrendously brackish water and had no electricity! It was interesting how few possessions they owned, often only what had been bartered for crops they had grown, yet their cabins though rudimentary were fairly comfortable.

What strikes me in today's reading is that the rich young man is aware that though he has kept the most fundamental commands of the Mosaic Law, he still lacks something. When Jesus looks at him he sees the potential of the man who could join his his disciples and follow him. But the pull of his possessions and therefore probably his family are too strong for him to commit himself to such a way.

John the Baptist had previously made a similar call, demanding that 'Those who have two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ (Luke 3.10-11).

When we look around our world today most of us are drowning in possessions, so the two questions for us, are: "How much do our possessions inhibit our life as disciples of Jesus?", and secondly "How much can we give away?"

Lord Jesus Christ,
as we look around at the things
we have collected throughout our life,
may we learn to sit lighter to possessions.
Help us to give away what we don't need
and share with others where we can.
We know we cannot take our possessions
with us when we leave this life,
so help us to break free from their ties,
that we may follow You more closely.
Amen.