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." ~Luke 18:22
I've been learning what it means to obey God, even when it hurts.
David was once commanded by God to build an altar on a piece of land that belonged to a man named Araunah. When Araunah heard why David wanted to purchase his land, he offered it to the king for free. But David responded, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24).
So many times in our lives, we offer to God burnt offerings that cost us nothing. "Two dollars to that homeless guy? Sure! This box of crayons to a little orphan girl in Ukraine? I'd love to! This strange-looking fern that my grandmother gave me for my birthday? Oh, Lord, I would love to give you that!" And we walk away feeling so good about ourselves, because we've done something for God.
And then He comes after the important things in our life. The things we believe are essential. "But if I do that, Lord, I may lose my dream of that beautiful house in Colorado with the white picket fence and the perfect husband. If I stand up and obey You in this area, God, I might lose that friendship. Jesus, if I give my life in obedience to You, You might take it from me."
We serve a God who demands all. Not just the things we feel like giving up. Everything. From your fern to your heart, He wants it all. And you can be assured that when you make a commitment to come after Him, He will demand obedience that will cost you something.
Isaiah 58:10 says that what is pleasing to God is to "spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry." Not to keep your life to yourself. Not to ignore God's call and stay comfortably at home, hoarding your money, your time, and your life. No, we are to spend ourselves. To give up everything for the least of these that God places around us, and in so doing, to know His face.
And so you don't have to be depressed that you're giving up your life. It is not drudgery, though it may feel like it for a while. Costly obedience is repaid tenfold. We have the pleasure, the joy of following in the footsteps of Christ, who gave up all for the sake of others. The least we can do is give up all for Him. And when we spend ourselves, He promises, "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I" (Isaiah 58:8-9).
But first we must obey. Without sacrifice, there can be no return. Without passionate love for Jesus Christ, we will never bring ourselves to give up our all. And without spending our lives, we will lose more than we ever thought possible.
