I like good stuff! My MacBook Pro, my blackberry, and my 70′ LED Flat Screen (which I don’t have- wishing) are a few of the toys I enjoy playing with. When I was little it was my Garbage Pail Kids cards, my wrestling men, and my GI Joe collection (1 huge headquarters with 3 men- 1 bad guy & 2 good guys). Later on down the road it’s that dream house my wife and I piece together periodically, as we share our long-term goals. Although, all of these things have or currently excite me and motivate me, they can, if not checked, become what we want to define us and ultimately effect our spiritual mindset and focus.
This morning as I read Matthew 19 and observed Jesus’ dialog with a young rich dude and the disciples, I thought about what would the rich young dude look like. I’m sure he’d have a MacBook Pro, the latest and greatest phone, and some t.v.’s to make my 70′ look like my old 19′ black and white. Nevertheless, possessions stopped him from following Christ, just as my possessions from time to time cause me not to spend as much quality time in my word or even with my family. On the other side of the token, I find great comfort, as did the disciples, with Jesus words at the end of the chapter, knowing that some of the greatest stuff we can get our hands on and experience will be a result of the things that we’ve given up or gone without for the sake of Christ and others.