“Jesus, the Blessed One, is poor. The poverty of Jesus is
much more than an economic or social poverty. Jesus is poor because he freely
chose powerlessness over power; vulnerability over defensiveness; dependency
over self-sufficiency.” - Henri Nouwen.
I can’t fully express to you how profoundly this quote has
impacted my heart. The implications for this are astounding for those of us who
have decided to follow Jesus. Because if Jesus left the splendor of heaven to
become nothing (see Philippians 2), then we should also step down from our
earthly splendor and let go of our temporal wealth to follow Jesus into this
intentional poverty.
I can hear some of you responding, “But, Jesus didn’t
command everyone who followed Him to sell everything and give it to the poor.
He only said that to the rich young ruler, right? Right?”
Right. And also wrong.
Yes, Jesus did tell the rich young ruler to sell everything
and give it to the poor. That’s true. But he also said this:
“Anyone who does not give up all that he has cannot be my
disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
Read that again. Jesus is talking to “anyone”. Other
translations use the word, “everyone” if you prefer. But either way, the
meaning is clear. If anyone wants to be a follower of Jesus they cannot do so
unless they first give up all that they have. Everything.
I’ve said before that Jesus only asks us to give up one
thing to follow Him. It’s called “everything.” But for some reason this verse,
and that quote by Nouwen, hit me in a new way this week.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been noticing a tendency in myself
to become more materialistic lately? Maybe it’s because I’ve been a little
fearful to let go of things and to share out of my abundance with people who
are in need?
I think another aspect of this is the idea that the poverty
of Jesus was intentional. As Paul noted, our weakness unleashes “the power of
Christ” within us. (2 Cor. 12:9) So, the reason for Jesus to intentionally step
into a life of poverty was to demonstrate to us the importance of depending on
God for everything. It was also to model for us the value of people over things
and possessions.
If I’m honest, the idea of letting go of my things is
painful for me; physically and emotionally painful. I look around my room at my
favorite books, and toys, and cd’s and games. What if all of those were gone
forever? I consider my gadgets, my cell phone, my iPod, my X-box, and my
television. What would my life be like without those? I wonder what items I
simply could never let go of or give away and what it might take for me to let
go of them for good.
This question of giving up everything to Jesus is
uncomfortable for me to consider. The idea of taking these words from Jesus
seriously frightens me. And why does it frighten me? Because it’s the Holy
Spirit asking me these questions. Because the truth is, there are some things
that I do not want to let go of. Jesus knows that I have to surrender
everything to follow Him. It’s time to drop a few things I’ve been carrying to
make it the next few miles of the journey.
See, on the global scale, I am rich. Filthy stinking rich. I
make more in a year than most people on this planet will make in several
lifetimes. I live in Orange County, one of the most expensive and extravagant
places in the world. I have two cars. I have a garage full of stuff. I own
dozens of electronic gadgets and toys. I eat better than most everyone else on
the earth. I have a disposal income. I am rich.
The bible has a lot to say about those who are wealthy. None
of it is very positive:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is
hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you,
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who
is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:23-24)
“He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the
rich away empty.” (Luke 1:53)
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received
your comfort.” (Luke 6:24)
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the
misery that is coming on you.” (James 5:1)
“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in
their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since
they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat
and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the
same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.”
(James 1:9-11)
Here’s what I know about myself; one of my love languages is
“gift-giving.” So, when I consider my recent desire for materialistic objects
the truth becomes clear – I am trying to create an artificial feeling of love
within myself by giving myself these gifts. But these gifts to myself are
temporal. They do not bring me any joy. In fact, they serve to create a comfort
zone around my heart that insulates me from others, and from trusting God.
So, in essence I believe that the Holy Spirit is urging me
to change my posture from grasping to giving. If I can begin to let go of my
things I will discover that true joy is found in letting go. By sharing what
God has provided to me with others, this wall of comfort will begin to come
down, and my heart will have more direct access to God.
Not coincidentally, I’ve also been praying lately for God to
allow me to bear fruit in my life for His kingdom. Two things are required for
bearing fruit:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to
the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces
many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates
their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:24-25)
So, the idea of letting go of my stuff involves dying to
myself, and it involves sowing the seed of the Kingdom, and learning to trust
in the Lord for everything. Not in my stuff.
Pray for me if you think of it this week. I’ll be continuing
to seek the Lord about this and to begin sharing and giving away what I already
have rather than seeking to gain more material objects that I do not need.
The irony? There are countless, priceless treasures in store
for me as I cast away these temporal things and trust more in the God who loves
me and gave Himself for me. He is a God who loves to give good gifts to His
children.
-kg
**
More verses on wealth:
“You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You
have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.” (James 5:5)
“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and
destruction.” (1 Tim.6:9)
“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.”
(1 Tim. 6:17)
“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear,
but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and
pleasures, and they do not mature.” (Luke 8:14)
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need
a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind
and naked.” (Rev. 3:17)
