We continue this week on The Discipline of Possessions with this fourth lesson. We conclude our series next week with the final lesson.
The fourth lesson is that things are given to us to enjoy for a while.
Nothing has done more damage to the Christian view of life than the hideous notion that those who are truly spiritual have lost all interest in this world and its beauties. The Bible says, “God . . . endows us richly with all things to enjoy.” It also says, “Do not set your hearts on the godless world or anything in it.” It is altogether fitting and proper that we should enjoy things made for us to enjoy. What is not at all fitting or proper is that we should set our hearts on them. Temporal things must be treated as temporal things—received, given thanks for, offered back, but enjoyed. They must not be treated like eternal things.
Jesus said, “Beware! Be on your guard against greed of every kind, for even when a man has more than enough, his wealth does not give him life.” He went on to tell the story of a man whose crops yielded so bigger ones. Then he sat back and told himself confidently, “Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”
“But God said to him, ‘You fool, this very night you must surrender your life; you have made your money-who will get it now?’ That is how it is with the man who amasses wealth for himself and remains a pauper in the sight of God.”
“Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where it grows rusty and moth-eaten, and thieves break in to steal it. Store up treasure in heaven, where there is no moth and no rust to spoil it, no thieves to break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” . . .
The heart that is reluctant to receive joyfully all of God’s good gifts is also reluctant to part with any of them.
A man who had great possessions came asking Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus said he must keep the commandments. He had done so, the man said. What else was necessary?
“If you wish to go the whole way, sell your possessions … and come, follow me.”
The man’s attitude toward his possessions is revealed in his going away with a heavy heart. He could not know freedom as long as he clung to them. He came to Jesus with the burden of riches. He went away just as heavily laden when Jesus had wanted to give him rest. . .
The most overwhelming losses of my life, those that I feared most, have in fact been “far outweighed by the gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” I can never prove it to anybody. I cannot demonstrate it logically or scientifically. I only know that it is true and would say so with all my heart to others who, desiring to know Christ in all His fullness—in the power of His resurrection and in the fellowship of His suffering—yet fear loss. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. The gain will outweigh everything.
**Excerpt originally published in Discipline, the Glad Surrender, pp 110-111, 112, 113