Have you ever seen a fly strip? A fly strip is a narrow strip of paper coated in a sticky substance and it is designed to trap a fly when it lands on it. Once landed, the fly will be unable to free itself, and will eventually die.
There is another trap that many people become caught in, and it is money. It is riches, possessions and the cares of this life that can ensnare a person and lead them away from a life with Jesus. In Mark 10 we can read about a man who wouldn’t let go of something.
Mark 10:17-25 “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Do you see how badly he wanted to keep his riches? He clearly wanted to obtain eternal life, yet he had something else that he valued even more. Eternal life was within his grasp, yet he couldn’t bring himself to give up everything for it. His love for his money was too great, and he couldn’t let it go.
A few verses later, Peter asked Jesus what they would receive, because they had given up everything to follow Christ. “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30
They had given up everything! They were with Christ all the time, giving their whole life to Him and as Jesus told them, they would be rewarded. The disciples (with the exception of Judas) weren’t focused on obtaining and acquiring wealth and possessions. The world’s goods had no hold on them because they wanted eternal life.
Mark 8:36-37 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Nothing can be more important than the things of Christ. Nothing can hold a higher love in our lives than doing Christ’s will. So ask yourself, are you able to do what the apostles did? Are you able to give up everything to follow Christ? Or does something else hold a higher value to you?
In Christ,
Andrew
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