Just Drop it!
Luke 18:18-29
Georgina Pando-Connolly
A minister gave an unusual sermon one day, using a peanut to make several important points about the wisdom of God in nature. One of the members greeted her at the door and said, "Very interesting, Pastor. I never expected to learn so much from a nut."...
We just saw the illustration with the children.
((In the children’s sermon we had released helium ballons at watched them rise, except for the ones who had favorite toys, coins and other weighted objects attached to them, which stayed close to the floor))
The balloons were held back by the load they carried.
Just drop it! Whatever is holding you back, weighing you down, keeping you from Jesus.
Just drop it!
The story of “The Rich Young Man” is found in all of the synoptic gospels. It’s the story of a man who has everything and wants to know how to inherit eternal life. After failing to follow the instructions of Jesus to sell everything and give it to the poor, the young man goes away sad. This incident then becomes the foundation for a parable about the grace of God.
While the issue of riches is central to this passage, be careful not to focus, as the disciples do, on riches alone. Truly in the gospels Jesus teaches God’s priority for the poor. Nevertheless, this story really is not about the issue of wealth — it is about trust in God’s ability to save.
We don’t know what the Kingdom of God is until we let go of the priorities that we ourselves establish.
Jesus’ love includes a challenge which the young man in our story cannot bring himself to figure out, let alone fulfill. So he goes away shocked and “grieving,” and the reader learns for the first time that he is wealthy.
Jesus’ love includes a challenge which we today must bring ourselves to figure out so that we too don’t go away from Jesus, grieving a loss greater than we can even comprehend.
Why is it so important for Jesus to speak about the wealth of this man? Could it be that we’re willing to let go of many things, but never the ultimate power that money gives us? Do you know that your pastors never get many negative comments except when we preach about money? “You toucha my pocketbook. . . !”. . . The most difficult to give up. But Jesus isn’t talking only about our finances here. He does not want our money only, He wants our all.
Yes, we are very, very rich but we are also very poor. Compared to other countries we have it all. In other countries people walk or ride bikes. Here we drive comfortable cars from here to the corner store and heaven forbid if we can’t find a parking space right in front of the door. We have it all and more. Yet we’re poor, because we do not want, long for the things that are really important.
In Ministry to the dying you learn what is really important in life. This is why this type of ministry is not only an honor, but a gift. As a person let’s go of all the material things, slowly they become lighter and lighter, emptying themselves to the marvelous things of the Spirit and begin to understand what it’s all about. As a very sick woman told her family this week. “It’s so sad, the many people who need prayer, but the more you pray for them the lighter they get.”
Just drop it! Brothers and sisters. Just drop whatever it is you’re clinging to that keeps you form experiencing Jesus to the fullest. Be it money, fame. Pride, anger, unforgiveness, fear, guilt. Drop whatever has you so comfortable. Become uncomfortable for the kingdom!
In our parable this morning we see that the wealthy young man is not the only one who is confused by Jesus’ words — the disciples don’t understand them either. People believe in a connection between wealth and success, and being blessed by God. Jesus dismisses this connection. Jesus teaches his disciples and us a deeper truth about God’s kingdom with this parable. The point of Jesus’ teaching is that it IS impossible. This impossibility leaves open only one possibility — that with God all things are possible (v. 27).
The issue of wealth does impact on our spiritual health, not because of what we have, but because we don’t want to let go . It is true then as well as now, that money becomes a “god” for many, but the real emphasis in this Gospel is on God’s grace. There is no prohibition against wealthy people in heaven. The shock and sadness of the young man is that because of his refusal to accept the call of Christ that is before him, he has missed the opportunity for a true blessing in the now.
Even getting eternal life doesn’t seem to be the most important point to Jesus. Renunciation as the price to be paid for eternal life misses the point. Jesus wants and needs followers in this life. Jesus seems to be saying; “Don’t be so sure about what you have or what you’ve given up, “ Instead, be sure only of God’s grace which is for rich and poor alike.
Like the rich young man in today’s gospel we know ourselves, we identify ourselves, we define ourselves, by our possessions, our things, our "stuff." This young man was so possessed by his "stuff" that he couldn’t unstuff himself for the sake of the poor, for his own sake not even for his desire for eternal life.
He couldn’t let go! He wouldn’t just drop it! Faced with the choice between his old secure, in-control, in-charge self and the unknown possibilities of life as a disciple of Jesus, the rich man clung to his human illusions of power and control.
Who or what controls your life? AA has a saying: Let go and let God.
Jesus said ,” It is more difficult for a camel to enter through the eye of the needle” Eye of the needle was a real place called that because it was a narrow gate. When the camel was too heavily loaded it would simply turn sideways and drop it’s heavy load at the entrance of the gate so that it could pass through.
Jesus asks us today. Do you want to make it through the narrow gate? The narrow gate is the entry-point to a whole new way of living and experiencing God and the world.
Just drop it all at the entrance of the gate.
Camel turning sideways, everything falls if camel carries load. What is your load?
What is that one thing that you refuse to yield to the Lord?
Faith fails us in difficult times. Needs to be strengthened in good times.
Jesus revealed to the rich young man the heart of his shortcomings. His "stuff" blocked the staff of life. His love of stuff blocked his way to genuine discipleship, to the kingdom of God. Jesus challenged the man to give up his trust in things, to relinquish his hold on what he held, to give up his control, to take up God’s security.
I’m not necessarily talking about physical, real property here. Our personal commodities might include the habit you refuse to give up that harms both you and your family. It may be an attitude — of entitlement, self-righteousness, bitterness or an unforgiving spirit that totally keeps you from walking the talk, talking the walk — moving forward in your discipleship.
1. We’re rich in so many ways. But the riches we hang onto may be the cause of death, not only in other countries, but in our own souls, and in the lives of those around us.
2. Jesus never says that it is impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven, simply that it is extremely difficult, and that it is going to happen only with God’s help (v. 27).
3. Jesus is calling us to discipleship. Before we can answer that call, we’ve got to just drop it all at the gate. Will you? Do you know what you’re missing if you don’t?
One day a little girl went shopping with her mother. Her Daddy had given her a couple of dollars to but whatever she wanted and she chose a shiny necklace with shiny beads that looked like pearls.
The little girl put on her pearls and wouldn’t take them off. She slept, bathed etc.
Her daddy was so impressed by her attachement to the pearls that one evening as he was ticking her in bed and she said. “Love you Daddy” He asked: Will you give me your pearl neckalace? She looked at him and making a little pot she turned away.
A few nights later, the same thing. Love, you baby. Love you Daddy Will you give me your pearl necklace? No, and a little tear appeared at the corner of her eye.
A few nights later, the same thing. Love, you baby. Love you Daddy Will you give me your pearl necklace? This time the little girl took it off and said, here Daddy I love my pearl necklace, but I love you more. Take it!
And then her Daddy reached into his pocket and took out a velvet box and handed it to her.
She opened it and saw an even more beautiful necklace, this one made of real pearls.
For weeks he had brought it to her, waiting for her to be willing to trust his love enough to receive the true pearls.
This is how our heavenly Father is with us. God is waiting for us to give our measly possessions up so that we can receive the true gift that God has in store for those who love God.
