~ Life or Riches? ~

[Lani]

Matthew 19:16-22
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.


Jesus said to [the young man], “if you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.” Matthew 19:21 (TEV)




As a taxicab driver, I sometimes transport patients who are afflicted with cancer and under medical care. Mireille, a 53-year-old woman, lives on a hill overlooking the city, in a magnificent villa with a beautiful swimming pool and an unrestricted view of the ocean. She had gone back to school, hoping to get a better job and to improve her quality of life and had been successful.

One day as we left for her chemotherapy session, she told me she would gladly trade all her worldly goods for 10 more years of life so she could see her 16-year-old son grow up. What she said stunned me. I thought that material possessions could make people happy but even with all that she had, Mireille was not happy.

Her anguish was an important lesson for me. I thought about the rich young man who was sad when Christ asked him to sell all his goods, to give the proceeds to the poor, and to follow him. That day I cam to understand that riches cannot give us genuine joy. Christ along, who invites us to drink from his source of abundant life, is capable of giving us true happiness.


Prayer: Dear Lord, we are like the rich young man who was saddened at the prospect of losing his possessions. We need you, O Christ, so that we may choose the abundant life you offer. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: People being treated for cancer

Thought for the Day: Knowing Christ is the source of true happiness.

Story shared by: A. Coulon (France)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 9/3/11