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REFLECTION

What must I do? is the theme for our reflection. The theme is a question posed by a rich ruler to Jesus concerning his obligation if he will qualify for the Kingdom of God or eternal life? After meeting the requirement he had hitherto believed are needed to make one eligible for the Kingdom of God, Jesus challenged his readiness when “…he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. (Luke 18:21-23) Dear friend, Jesus simply tested the young man’s love, faithfulness and allegiance to God over wealth. If we desire to enter into the Kingdom of God then we must love God and dedicate our whole life to His service with all our wealth and possession. It is for this reason Jesus said that “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13). Indeed, Jesus reminds us again in Matthew 6:21 that “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” If we are obsessed with our treasure then definitely “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:25)

Beloved in the Lord, Paul reminds us that “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (1 Timothy 6:6-7) Let us be watchful lest we allow our obsession with or love for worldly possessions to come between us and our salvation in Christ. Jesus assures us that “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:29-30). Let us follow our Lord Jesus and serve Him with our wealth, Paul wrote to Timothy to “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19). I believe we now know what we must do to give our lives and all that we are and have to gain eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to overcome the temptation of materialism and may we remain faithful stewards of the Lord. Amen.