One ness with God... Question #8 - Do you hold tight to anything in life OR is there anything so important to you that you are not willing to give it up to seek God in order to know Him more deeply and experienced Him more fully?
There are many things that people dream about and work hard for them. And once they have achieved them, they do not want to give them up. To name a few: money, fame, power, relationship, title, position, big house, expensive car, etc… The apostle Paul had declared his decision to give up all good things that he had just to have Jesus.
Philippians 3:4-11 – If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having the righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
When we love anything too much and not willing to give them up, the following could happen:
- We are focusing on the wrong thing… We will not be able to bring anything with us when we die. 1Tim 6:6-7 – But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. Many people do not know that Jesus had died to give them eternal life which is the most precious gift compared to all things perishable in life.
- We are slave to it... People easily become possessed by their possessions. - We will not be free until we can let go… Letting go of our desires will free us from worries, fears, and control. Letting go of our pains will free us from sadness, regrets, and mental illness.
We should want to be happy by focusing on the right thing and being free, so learn to give up and let go. Giving up and letting go of the things in life will help us to focus on the God Triune, Father God the Creator, Jesus Christ the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit the Helper… as the source of peace, joy, and hope, surpassing all knowledge and understandings.
A story to remember… Chuck Feeney is an 88-year old American multi-billionaire who has refused to even buy a house. He is the co-founder of Duty Free Shopping and founder of Atlantic Philantropies, one of the largest private foundations in the world. Feeney has donated more than 8 billion USD to charity so far… There are many really rich people all over the world, but Feeney is truly the “richest” of all in modern time. Because he doesn’t seek fame either, his life story has only been made public recently. I only heard of him this year. Google his name, you will find him and admire a very special man. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus told a story of a poor widow who donated only 2 mites (very small copper coins) and He said she was the biggest giver. Whatever amount we offer up to God, the indwelling Holy Spirit knows and sees our hearts. God will encourage us to give more by giving us more. Feeney’s quote: “I had one idea that never change in my mind – that you should use your wealth to help people”.
Bonus: In his work - “The Shack” a fiction book - Paul Young wrote about deep pain and let it go! Paul Young is a believer. In The Shack, his 6-year old daughter was murdered. He was really sad and deeply troubled about what happened to his little daughter. He had questions for God – where was Your sovereignty over all things, where was Your protection for little innocent children, and why You did not stop the serial killer?
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