Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Possessed by Possessions Read Mark 10:17-31 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Mark 10:21 Is the desire for God alone sufficient to enable us to follow God? Granted, we must have desire, but is desire alone sufficient? Many people desire things and never get them. The rich young ruler came to Jesus desiring to know how he could enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus told him to keep the commandments, to which he replied that he had, from his youth. Then Jesus pressed right into the real issue – this man's responsiveness of heart. Was he willing to respond to Jesus whatever the cost? So Jesus told him to sell all he possessed and, leaving all, come follow Him. What the Scripture reports next is indeed a tragedy. It says that this rich, young ruler went away grieved because he was very wealthy and had many possessions. The point is that his heart was cluttered by these possessions. He found himself unable to give them up in order to follow Jesus. His possessions had now possessed him. And so he turned and walked away. What a tragedy! It is the tragedy of a cluttered heart. Note that a cluttered heart can desire God. When the rich, young ruler came to Jesus, he came seeking eternal life. He truly desired the things of God, but desire is not enough. A cluttered heart cannot make the right response to God. Pray that we will not let possessions be the sole concern of the family. Our children can sometimes become so accustomed to accumulating things that it clutters their hearts. These things take the place that should rightly belong to God. What is hindering you from getting right with God? Is it your possessions, which have now possessed you or is it something else? Ask God to reveal to you what is hindering you from getting right with Him and then do the right thing.