Once again we see the disciples holding children back. Then Jesus tells them that they must have the faith of a child. A child trusts and believes, and sometimes obeys the words of a loving and kind parent. Jesus is telling us to trust the father in this way.
Here is a verse that speaks to that very idea. Hebrews “4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” I love this image from Tim Keller; “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3 a.m. for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”
Later Jesus encounters The rich young ruler. He asks a question about how to receive eternal life. In Matthew the parable about a treasure hidden in a fields recorded. In the parable a man finds a hidden treasure, realizes its value, he then goes and sells all he has to obtain it. This treasure is standing in front of the rich young ruler and he misses it. He clings to his wealth and misses his moment. Here is our lesson, God wants to pour the riches of heaven into our lives. He cannot do that while we are holding tightly to the treasures on earth. This goes back to trust, do I trust that God will supply all I really need. What am I trusting, God's generosity or personal wealth?
Here is God's generosity to all who trust and follow him: Mark 10:28-30 "Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life."
Peter is really asking, "What's in it for me?" The brothers are asking the same question, "what's in it for me?" What the brothers want their position and the pride and glory that comes with it, "Look at me, see I am very important." How often are we motivated by the pride of life? Will people see what I am doing? Will they be impressed? Pride...
Jesus circles back to the issue of pride. He points out how people like attention when they give. He then highlights a women who didn't give much, but gave all she had and demonstrated trust.
We must always examine our hearts for motive behind our actions. Am I doing this for the praise of man or do I desire to quietly honor God with my life?
God's blessing's flow hearts and into hands that are open. Hold
on loosely to material possessions. Do you have an open hand toward all you have so that God may bless you?
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