What are you holding back from the Lord? What is obtaining the kingdom of heaven worth to you? Are you holding on to things you know that you shouldn’t be? Are you totally sold out to the Lord or are you straddling the fence having one foot in the kingdom and the other in the world? Are you willing to give everything up to obtain the kingdom of God? Is gaining the kingdom of heaven the most important thing in your life? Take some time and examine these questions.
There are a couple of Parables that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 13:44-45 that relate to this subject. In the first one Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all that he had and bought that field.”
The second Parable Jesus said, “Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Is this the way you feel about the kingdom of God? In these two Parables one man found a treasure and one man found a pearl of great value. To these men these things were worth more than anything they had even to the point that they were willing to give up everything they owned to possess them.
Was Jesus saying that you could buy the kingdom of heaven? No, He wasn’t. What He was saying was the kingdom of heaven is worth more than anything you can possess and that you should be willing to give up everything you have to gain it. Your salvation and your access to the kingdom of heaven are the most important treasures you will ever have. Jesus wasn’t saying that we had to sell everything we have, it was the heart that He was more concerned with. Would we be willing to give up everything or do the things we own have such a hold on us that we wouldn’t be willing to give them up? If you think about the disciples, they left everything and followed Jesus.
It says in Mark 10:28, “Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples left behind. ‘We’ve given up everything to follow you,’ he said.” In verses 29–30 Jesus replied, “‘Yes,’ Jesus replied, ‘and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.” (NLT) There are many missionaries that have done the same thing. They will have great rewards here and in the life to come they will have eternal life as well, praise God!
So the question is would you be willing to give up everything you have if the Lord asked you to or would He have to pry them from your hands?” Just remember if we put anything before the Lord it can become an idol. So hang on to everything you have with an open hand and put the kingdom of God first in your life and treat it like it is the greatest treasure that you have because it truly is, then you will be blessed. Have a great day! God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment