What are you willing to give up for God

 31 Jul 25

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion


What are you willing to give up for God

This man's wealth made his life comfortable and gave him power and prestige. When Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of his security and identity. The man did not understand that he would be even more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. Jesus does not ask all believers to sell everything they have, although this may be his will for some. He does ask us all, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important than God. If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, it would be better for you to get rid of those possessions.


“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Reflections

What are you willing to give up for God.. this reminds me of the sharing I heard yesterday about Mary who poured perfume on Jesus’s feet and wipe it with her hair. It was shared with a slightly different view and made me teared non-stop throughout the whole sermon.


Jesus had the first cut-she didn’t give Him the balance of the perfume but instead she put Him first. How many times in our lives had we really put Him first? Giving Him our tithes first before anything? Giving Him thanks and praises when we were filled with joy?


The value of the perfume-it was equivalent to a year’s wages in those times. If we put it in reality to our current perspective, you just need to ask yourself how much you are earning in a year. And that would equals to the value of the perfume that was poured out for Jesus. She didn’t choose to give a bit of it (even though just a bit of it would have cost a lot), she chose to gave all of it. No reservations, no holding back. She put it all in all out of the love of Christ. 


I look back at myself and ask will I be able to do such a thing like this? I know I struggle because time and again, He has told me to give out and above my own means, where I had nothing left but just to rely on Him. He however, had never shortchanged me and I would still have enough.


The posture-when Mary had to wipe the feet of Jesus using her hair, not sure how low you would have to go especially if you had short hair in order to wipe his feet? This total humbleness is something I am still learning. I think any lower Mary would have to be lying on the floor.


This simple lesson was all to teach us to come to Christ. To keep our eyes on Him, don’t see what the challenges were, don’t be bothered by the waves or the winds. He has full control over everything.


As a full time staff in church, it is also a challenge to us on why we ended up serving in church. Was it like a no choice thing or we were being called to ministry. It is a time to seek our first love, to rekindle that fire within us. It’s all or nothing for Christ! Amen!

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