It's very interesting to note how Scripture deals with the issue of personal sacrifice. Jesus once had a conversation with one man that specifically addressed the issue.
Matt. 19:16-24 "Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17. "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 18. "Which ones?" the man inquired. ¶ Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19. Honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" 20. "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 21. Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22. When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
The most significant portion of this discourse is about what you don't read. When outlining the Ten Commandments, Jesus leaves four out. Specifically, commandments 1, 2, 3, and 4 dealing with "No other Gods," "Graven images (idols)", "Taking His name in vain," and the "Sabbath". Essentially, he intentionally excluded all the commandments that dealt with man's attitude toward God.
Notice his response regarding the one's that dealt with man's relationship toward man, "I've always done that!" But had he, really? Jesus puts his feigned compassion to the test. The truth is that many of us can "keep the rules" so long as it doesn't really cost us much. We're willing to cooperate so long as our cooperation doesn't expose enough of us for others to be able to comment on our lives. We so dislike others "meddling" in our affairs. As a result, many of our relationships are superficial; they don't require real intimacy and so they don't ever require "real" sacrifice by default.
Keeping the rules is not about sacrificing. It is simply about attaining the minimum standard acceptable. It does not require an emotional investment, let alone passion. It also doesn't require vulnerability. Many of us cannot establish meaningful relationships with others because we are afraid of being vulnerable. Unfortunately, this is also true of our relationship with the Lord.
How does Jesus deal with this man's question regarding salvation? It is important to realize that he's not asking about sainthood here. He just wants to know what he needs to do to be saved. Jesus answers by asking this man to do something that almost seems impossible. "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Notice how Jesus equates the state of perfection with the state of salvation in responding to this inquiry. Wow! The cost of discipleship is heavy. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the cost of discipleship. Luke 9:23 puts it this way,
Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
The problem is that we do not know the extent to which we must deny ourselves. Jesus clarifies this later in the Gospel of Luke.
33. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. 34. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35. It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
God's demands are all encompassing and absolute. With God, it's all or nothing. We can't hold anything back. There is no such thing as "privacy" when it comes to God. Like the song says, we must surrender all, not most.
Just how vulnerable are you willing to be in your life? The extent to which you are vulnerable to God will determine the extent to which he will be intimate with you. Please don't make the mistake of walking away sad, like this young man did. Whatever you might be holding on to is nothing in comparison with what He has prepared for you if you simply, and genuinely, surrender all to Him.
Love ya,
Pastor Mario
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