The Cost of Following Christ
Dear Friends,
Taken literally, the notion of hating oneself, one’s spouse and one’s family is unthinkable. It’s also hard to imagine casting aside all of our worldly possessions – how will we live without a big screen tv, ipods, luxury cars and large homes? God is not asking us to shun others and completely remove them from our lives, or to stop providing for our family and enjoying our lives. (That’s why He has blessed each of us with our own individual talents and treasures.) However, He does instruct us to seriously contemplate what we value, view the things we value from the proper perspective, and live our lives accordingly.
It’s been said that an unexamined life is not worth living, and that we should not worship false idols. These words of wisdom hearken back to Luke 14 because they are modern day interpretations of what Jesus said to the masses. Set aside quiet time to meditate and contemplate that which you possess and how much you value it. As a dedicated Christian, you will likely understand that what you possess is given to you by God – a gift that you did nothing to earn, but rather a blessing from the Father. How much do you value those possessions? And where do they fall in your personal hierarchy of what’s most important to you?
I believe that our current down economy – indeed many of the problems in the world – are the result of overbearing greed and people placing too high a value on material possessions. In other words, worshipping the false idols of money, power and material possessions. Those are the same people who “live high on the hog” in boom times, and who fall the farthest and the hardest in doom times because they have nothing meaningful in their lives once their “stuff” is gone.
How highly do you value and place your trust in what you “have”? And how does that relate to what you “worship?” Personally, I truly want to worship only Jesus Christ. That means examining my fears about losing my “stuff”, and prayerfully asking God for the wisdom and guidance to hold it in its proper place. I want to keep my praise and worship for Jesus Christ above all. When I practice such a deep faith, I know with certainty that no matter what may happen, I can turn away from the false promises of my earthly possessions and turn toward the Lord to receive the blessing of eternal life that He promises.
You may know clients who have given virtually all their earthly possessions to the Kingdom, and are now living a simpler, less cluttered life. How did that decision impact their lives, practically and spiritually? What has been their biggest challenge and their biggest reward? Share a story and inspire other advisors on how they may counsel a client who expresses interest in casting aside worldly possessions for the promise of eternal life.
Blessings,
Ron
Letting go of the "stuff" and moving into a simpler life is so freeing. Very hard for the unbeliever to get their arms around, even more difficult to attain. As I walk with the Lord, little by little He pries my fingers off of the things of this world, and little by little they have no draw for me. I thank God for this. He removes the clutter from my life that I have created.
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Amen Ron! Just last night I listened to a sermon that referenced Luke 14 in the context of the “economic crisis.” Sadly, the pastor focused solely on Luke 14:28 (“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first set down and count the cost…”) and held out Jesus’s words as financial instruction to budget and make wise purchases. When in fact, Jesus is not providing financial instruction at all, he is simply stating that counting the cost is customary and fundamental to making decisions, something that most people know and should practice. He goes on to observe that if you don’t you will be mocked by society. (Today, unfortunately, it is normal not to count the cost.) But that’s not the point. The point, as Ron mentioned, is about knowing what it takes to follow Christ. It is true, Jesus talked a lot about money, and that may help us better understand money and business. But the deeper meaning behind his teachings regarding money is so that we will better understand the Kingdom and who He is. To me, that is the unique position of the financial advisor and why Ron’s ministry is so important. I am grateful for all that you do.
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