Wednesday, December 21, 2022

When Possessions Are Nine Tenths Of The Heart

"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 22:35-40

I am certain that you are familiar with the saying, "Possession is nine tenths of the law". As I was driving back home today, I was thinking about a conversation I had earlier where the other person was commenting on how much money they had wasted buying what they didn't need. It raised the question that I didn't ask, "What is your heart devoted to?" Buying things can be our attempt to fill what Blaise Pascal called the "God-shaped void or vacuum" that is in each of us.

Blaise Pascal, (born June 19, 1623, Clermont-Ferrand, France—died August 19, 1662, Paris), was a French mathematician, physicist, religious philosopher, and master of prose. He laid the foundation for the modern theory of probabilities, formulated what came to be known as Pascal’s principle of pressure, and propagated a religious doctrine that taught the experience of God through the heart rather than through reason. (Britannica)

Jesus did not leave any "wiggle" room when asked what the single greatest thing a person should do - which is to love God with your whole heart. Ten tenths of your heart not just part of it. Sharing your devotion between God and something else is sin. What???? The problem is not in having things it is when those things have you. That you choose the things of the world to make you feel safe or good or right.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money]." - Matthew 6:24

Don't deceive yourself thinking that you can do both in an effort to rationalize why you are not fully devoted to Gd. So, how much of your heart's devotion  are you willing to give God? Not what you would like to give Him, but what you actually have surrendered to Him. 

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember [trust in - rely upon] the name of the Lord our God." - Psalm 20:7

The real test is when you are asked by God to give it up - the treasure of your heart that is. That is what happened to the young man who met Jesus.  He was a really good guy. He was certain he had a place in heaven because of all of the good things he had done. Eternal life on his terms. Well, not so fast!

"The young man said to Him [Jesus], “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect [to be right with the Father], go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." - Matthew 19:20-22

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone


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