The most famous time is when the Rich Young Man asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. You can read the story for yourself if you aren't familiar with it. *Spoiler Alert* Jesus tells him to sell everything he has and follow Jesus.
Jesus also tells two parables with the same basic idea: someone finds something valuable and gives up everything else for that one thing.
When I've talked to people about these passages lately, the general consensus around the table is that too many people today are held captive by their possessions. Often times we worship our money or material wealth when, in fact, we should put God first. The sin of the Rich Young Man, the argument goes, wasn't that he had so many possessions but that he wasn't willing to give them up.
I have to say I find this interpretation very comforting, especially because I have many possessions myself. If I read the passage this way, I can keep everything I have just so long as I'm not too attached it all.
The question that keeps coming up in my mind is whether that was really what Jesus meant.
What I am looking for is wiggle room. I don't consider myself super well off and have certainly struggled with money in the past. So it would be really great if Jesus wasn't talking to me when he said to sell everything. When Jesus speaks to the Rich Young Man about his wealth, he's speaking to that one man in that one instance, right?
Jesus couldn't possibly mean that everyone who believes in him has to give up their worldly possessions, right? I mean, that would be crazy. Really.
Yet, Jesus says to one man, "You must be born again" and many people think he meant that for everyone. So why is this so different?
As difficult as it is to hear, I have to think Jesus actually meant what he said. I just can't wiggle my way out of this one.
Jesus makes me really uncomfortable with this passage because I know how much I struggle with this very issue in my life. Jesus makes people uncomfortable in the Gospels again and again. He is shocking and controversial, offensive and unequivocal.
And that's why I follow him.
I pray God will release me from my love of material things, and have mercy on me when I am consumed by them.