When You Have Nothing to Lose
Let's look at a tale of two men. One had it all and couldn't let go and the other was given it all and wasted it. The story of the first man is found in Matthew 19.
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
16 Just then 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, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”
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, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich 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 someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
I think Jesus knew the man's heart and saw that he desired to be "perfect" or "good". He thought it was about what you do with your hands or your abilities. Jesus is simply informing him that it is not within our reach or our ability to be saved. This was obviously a "good" man. Someone who was determined to do the right things. But what he "lacked" was to be generous. To love others more than himself. So Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor or needy, which is what He had been doing. He was asking the man to join Him in helping others. But the man was pleased enough with himself that he went away sad. It was not an option for him at that time. We don't know what he did later. Maybe years later he did help the poor and join the faith. I hope so.
The other man we learn about in Luke 15.
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
This man wanted it all and he wanted it now. So his father gave it to him. He abused it and lost it. But he came to his senses and returned to seek mercy and it was granted to him even before he presented his request. His father forgave him while he was still a ways away. It doesn't say that he restored his fortune. That was already given to him and to his brother. So everything that was left was his brother's. But they celebrated his return and gave him other gifts and he was forgiven.
So it is the man who had nothing to lose that found forgiveness and was honored. Many times people come to God simply because they have nowhere else to turn. They have no other options. You may think that God is not pleased to be their "last" option. But He is. He is there waiting for them to come their senses and ask for His forgiveness and salvation. When you see someone that is in need, just remember that they may be closer to finding God than you might think. Don't push them away by treating them badly as others do. You will know if they are genuinely seeking help. They may be right where God wants them to be; where He can reach their heart. Pray for them and pray for yourself that you will see what God is really doing.
All scriptures are the NIV version from the http://www.biblegateway.com/ .
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