FORSAKE ALL YOU HAVE TO BE HIS DISCIPLE

MONEY MONDAY

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple – Luke 14:33

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches against the amassing and hoarding of material possessions in this age. He’s not against us having what we need: food, clothing, shelter, transportation and enough to look after our loved ones. But if we don’t need it, we should sell it and give the proceeds to the poor. That which we keep, we should be willing to share with others. Otherwise we cannot be His disciples. That’s the Doctrine of Christ.

Acts 4:34 says, ‘Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold.’ The early church forsook all that they had, they were disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. They sold their material possessions and used the proceeds to help the poor among them so that no one lacked anything. Acts 4:32b says, ‘…neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own: but they had all things in common.’ The possessions that they kept they were not selfish about, they still shared them with others and everyone had access to one another’s possessions.

What we’re hearing and seeing in the church today is not the Doctrine of Christ. Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ aren’t called to have a lifestyle of the rich and famous. Having mansions, sportscars, designer clothes, yachts and the like is laying up treasures for oneself in this earth. Luke 6:24-25 says, ‘Woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! For ye shall hunger.’

The rich will be denied entry into the kingdom to come because they rewarded themselves in this life ignored the poor. We should rather be wise and store up treasures for ourselves in heaven by selling our excess possessions and distributing the proceeds to the poor. In the age to come, the Lord Jesus Christ will reward us with eternal things for having done such good works. That’s a far greater return on our investment. That’s the Doctrine of Christ.

PRAYER

Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, help the church to become true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the church forsake all she has and lay up for herself treasures in heaven so that she may be compensated in the age to come. Amen.