Too Much To Ask?

Too Much to Ask?

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21

Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Luke 19:8

“Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:61-62

What would you say is the most important thing in your life? It’s a hard question to answer. Because there is what we think should be the most important thing, and then there’s what truly is the most important thing, whether or not we realize it.

Jesus had the ability to see inside people’s lives and know exactly what was important to them. And so often when people told Jesus they wanted to follow him, he pointed to what was most important to them and told them, “This is what following me is going to cost you.”

Jesus was testing them—testing to see if he was really their treasure, their joy, their security, their hope, their home. And Jesus will test us in this way too, because he knows exactly what is competing in our hearts for our affection.

When God asks us to let go of what is most precious to us, it’s not because he wants to take away our happiness. It’s because he wants to add to it. He knows that we will be happiest when we’ve given him everything. Then we will be able to get more of him and enjoy him more.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What are some things you would never want to lose?

What are signs that we value and desire something more than we value or desire Jesus?

How can we learn to let go of things we love so we can enjoy Jesus more?