Unlimited: To Receive the Kingdom We Must Put Jesus First
Jan 25, 2017 1101
You cannot become My disciple without giving up everything you own. (Luke 14:33, NLT)
I’ve sometimes been all excited about business opportunities that promise to make me a millionaire. And then my excitement has been totally deflated when the reality hasn’t lived up to the promises.
Jesus offers us the best deal ever: eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Bible, there’s a story about a rich young man who got all excited about this and ran up to Jesus, fell on his knees, and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).
How to Put Jesus First
When Jesus told him to sell everything he had and to give it to the poor, the man went away sad, his excitement completely deflated. His attitude towards money stood in the way of the blessings that Jesus could give him.
Jesus wasn’t telling us that every one of us has to go and sell everything and give it to the poor. Instead, He was talking about what the attitude of our hearts must be if we want eternal life. We must absolutely put Jesus and the priorities of His Kingdom first.
If there is anything in our lives or in our hearts that is standing in the way of our relationship with Him, and His Kingdom agenda, we must give it up. Jesus must be either first of all, or nothing at all. – Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: Think seriously about your attitude to money and possessions. I encourage you to make a prayerful gift to a worthy charity or Christian ministry that helps the poor or spreads the Gospel. Test your attitude and challenge your heart by making the gift of such a size that it hurts (Note: If you or your family have personal and pressing needs, you should make sure that these are able to be met first).
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