What is your Possession?

Reed was wanting to go fishing last night on the kayak.  As I helped him load up, I asked if he minded if I went and he didn’t.  It was a perfect night.  It wasn’t too hot, there was a slight breeze, it was quiet except for the lapping of the small waves at the sea walls and the occasional splash of small mullet hit the top to get away from bigger fish.  There were fireworks over Destin as we were setting out and then the moon rose over the lights of Destin in a giant orange ball that turned to white as it rose.  We fished for about two hours and I caught a 22 inch trout.

Truth is, I didn’t even care if I caught a fish.  In fact, I would have preferred that Reed caught it.  Just leaning back in the kayak stretched out, listening to the sounds, looking up at the stars, and feeling the breeze were enough for me.  Why we don’t do that more is a question that we always ask ourselves when we are out in Creation and settled in it.

This is the way we are when we are close to the presence of God also.  We ask ourselves why we aren’t closer to His presence more. 

A rich man came to Jesus asking what he must do to have eternal life.  Jesus responded to keep the commandments (the law).  The man said he had done that.  The man declaring he had done that was then given an additional requirement.  Matthew 19:21-22 finishes the story. “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”  But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Is there a “possession” in our life that keeps us out of God’s Creation or out of the presence of God?  Is it TV, money, laziness, pride, anger, resentment, bitterness, jealousy, envy, self-pity, etc.?  Do we have too many possessions to be able to follow Jesus?

He said to another person, “Come, follow Me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!  Your duty is to go and preach the Kingdom of God.”

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:59-62

Jesus was very direct with respect to the comparison of anything in this world to Him.  If we are to follow God, to be in His presence, that is more valuable than anything else that we know or are aware.  We will sell all we have for it.  Do we remember Jesus descriptions of the Kingdom of Heaven?  He says it’s like a lost coin and we won’t rest until we find it or a treasure in a field and we will sell all we own to possess the field where it is.

What is the “possession” that keeps you from desiring God?  What has a higher place in your life?  Are you ready to “leave it all behind” as the gospel song sings?