Luke 18:22 (NIV) - When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Detaching from "things" is a process. During the end and the start of the year we focus on getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. We focus on decluttering and removing the things that no longer serve us. I say, it is a process to make room for more blessings. But, there are always those things to which we are attached whether for sentimental or other reasons that we have held onto for decades.
Neal Donald Walsh wrote this, “you must be willing to lose it all before you can have it all. It means that until you can let go of everything, you will find it hard to hold onto anything. Detachment is the key. If you are so attached to something that you are deeply unhappy without it, then you are not simply attached, you are addicted.” This statement made me say hmm or as my Pastor says made me say “ouch.” But it made sense after reading several times. Nothing belongs to us, it all belongs to God including our treasures, talents, and our time.
Detaching from so many things including our treasures, is still difficult for most. One key to God’s teaching in my eyes is detachment. We should not attach ourselves to anything of this world as it is all temporary and does not belong to us. Would you be willing to sell everything you have, be left with nothing, let go of your treasures, your ego to follow God? That is the challenge. We have all experienced loss. As we grow spiritually, we understand that nothing lasts forever. That change is constant. Would you rather anchor on something that is permanent or something that is temporary? Today’s verse is a reminder of the answer God gave to a rich ruler when he asked “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? I encourage you to read Luke 18.
Dear God,
Thank you for the reminder that detachment not attachment is key. That anchoring on worldly attachments yields very little. That detaching from fear of losing all and focusing on your kingdom is the way to true joy, peace and happiness. I pray that all your children grow to learn this important lesson of detachment and understand that eternity is all that matters. I ask this in your son Jesus’ name. Amen!