Moving out of self centered sacrifice

Matthew 19:13-22

      I am not a quick study. I can often be counted on having the right thing to say, the perfect response . . . ten minutes after an engagement. So here I am reading this passage from Matthew and I think  right away of something that might be a better response by Jesus. Just a thought. After all  does Jesus really want us to give up all our possessions? 

      Jesus went through the Ten Commandments for this man seeking wisdom.  For a scrupulous person strictly adhering to the law those commandments are pretty easy to follow. Thow shalt not kill? Piece of cake. Thow shall not steal? No brainer and so on. What Jesus did a few chapters later on in Matthew ( Mt. 22:38-39 ) was far better or far worse than simply giving away one's possessions.  Those two great commandments put the subjective lens of love onto the Ten commandments.  Thow shall not kill now means no berating, no killing someone's spirit with words or gossip. It means not allowing your business to soil the enviornemnt and killing people with chemicals. If you love someone as much as you love yourself, you would be loath to do virtually anything bad against anyone. It becomes harder to follow all those commandments, harder for literalistic followers of the law to follow anyway.  That's because love is always more encompassing, perhaps harder but delivers more too.

      When we focus on loving our neighbor and loving God we start to live lives focused outwards and not on ourselves. We are concerned with everyone. The end result might actually be giving away our possessions to help others but it will be out of love not a self centered sacrifice. Isn't that love is all about?

Matthew 19:13-22

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.