Your Unique Calling

As I said in the previous devotional, it’s tempting to read the story of the rich young official and rationalize it away (Luke 18:18-23). “Jesus didn’t really mean he was supposed to give it all away.” We are so attached to our money and possessions that it’s threatening to think about living without them. 

On the other hand, some Christians throughout history have looked at the story of the rich young official and applied it too broadly. They have thought that, to be faithful to God, people should give up everything they own. 

Both extremes—under-applying and over-applying Jesus’s words—are mistakes. A one-size-fits-all mentality concerning possessions was far from Jesus’s mind. 

To explain, let me show you another incident from Jesus’s life. 

During his travels, Jesus came to an area called Gerasa and encountered a man afflicted by a mob of demons (Mark 5:1-20). No longer welcome among the living, he dwelt among the dead in the cemetery. 

This man came up to Jesus, and Jesus had compassion on him, just as he did on the rich young official. Jesus cast out the demons. At once, the man became peaceful. Since he had been wearing little or nothing, Jesus found a set of clothes for him. 

Soon after, Jesus had to leave. The renewed man asked if he could travel with Jesus as the other disciples did.

This is the reaction Jesus had wanted the rich young official to have! So wouldn’t you think Jesus would invite the man from Gerasa to do the same? No, Jesus told the man to go home.

This contrast is important. In the story of the rich young official, Jesus said, “Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. Then come, follow me.” In the story of the homeless man from Gerasa, Jesus gave him a new set of clothes and then said, “Go back to your home. Tell them your story.” 

Let’s ask ourselves, why did Jesus tell this second man to keep his house, while he called the rich official to sell everything? Because the two men were called to fulfill different roles with their lives. They were created for unique purposes. 

And so are we.

In what unique way is Jesus calling you to follow him today? How does his way of calling you reflect the gifts and personality he has given you?