Two Flowers,
Two Paths
This morning I
brought some flowers. Some are in the vase, and others are in the pot. They
both are beautiful. They both have a nice fragrance. If we look at outward
appearance, we can’t tell the difference. But there is a significant difference
between the two. What is it? One is connected to the root, the source of life;
the other is not. One is alive; the other is dead.
A Rich Young
Man
We have just heard
a story about a rich young man. He is like a beautiful flower in a vase.
He was a good man. He was a moral man. He was a rich man. In Jesus’ time the
rich were believed to be rich because they were blessed by God. Besides, the
rich had more time to study the Scriptures so as to better know God’s will. The
rich also had more resources to give to the temple and to the poor. And people
believed the rich would gain greater favor with God, a greater chance to get
eternal life. The problem of the young rich man was not that he was rich. The
problem was he was not poor in spirit. The problem was his spiritual
pride and complacency. When this young rich man came to see Jesus,
he had confidence. When Jesus told him to obey God’s commandments, he said, “I
have kept all of these. What’s left?” Deep down in his heart there was pride: “I
am good.” He was rejoicing in his own security based on his wealth, his good
reputation, his morality, his charity works and good deeds, but not necessarily
on God himself. He was trying to get eternal life through what he has and
what he does. Jesus said, “With man this is impossible!” Although this man was
seeking very hard, from Jesus’ point of view he didn’t hunger and thirst for
God. His possessions gave him false security and made him think, “I am ok. I am
good. I am enough.” So Jesus wanted to help him to remove that false security,
but the man was not willing. He chose his own security rather than Jesus. And
he went away sad, although he still had everything – his money and his status. Jesus
says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven” (Matt 5:2). Let me ask you, how hungry are you for God?
A Man Who
Collects Pearls
The Bible tells us
another parallel story. In Matthew 13:45-46 Jesus says, “Again, the kingdom of
heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great
value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” The man in
this parable is like a flower in the pot, a tree planted by streams of
water. Let me paraphrase this parable. There was a man who collected
pearls. One day, while walking downtown, in a store window, he sees the most beautiful,
magnificent pearl he has ever seen. He knows he must have it. He enters the
store and an old man comes out from behind the showroom. “I must have that
pearl. How much is it?” he asks the storekeeper. “How much do you have,” the
old man asks. “Well, I’ve got $300 in my pocket.” “Good. I’ll take that. What
else do you have?” “Well, I’ve got a BMW outside, low mileage, two years old,
paid off.” “Good. I’ll take that as well. What else you got?” “Well, I’ve got two
CD’s worth about $22,000.” “Good, I’ll take that too. What else you got?” This
goes on and on until the guy has given away his house and even his family. Then
finally the storekeeper says, “OK, here. The pearl is yours.” The man is
relieved that the ordeal is at last over and that he finally owns the pearl. He
turns to leave the store, but as he is walking out, the storekeeper stops him
and says, “Hey, you know what? That family of yours? I don’t need a family. I’m
going to give them back. But remember, they are mine now, not yours. You must
take good care of them.” “And that house in Connecticut
The Exchanged
Life
“We own nothing,
Jesus owns everything.” This is the secret to eternal life. This is the secret
to an abundant life. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20 ). Hudson
Taylor, missionary to China Taylor Taylor Taylor
As long as we own
something, we constantly swing back and forth between pride and insecurity,
between “I am good” and “Am I good enough?” But when we abide in
Christ, when we surrender everything to Jesus, true rest and joy flow, and we praise
him, “Jesus, you are good. You are beautiful. You are
enough!” Let us not strive nor struggle as the rich young man did. Instead, let
us abide. Let us trust Jesus and rest in his love moment by moment. “I am the
Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the
relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated,
you can't produce a thing” (John 15:5, MSG). Amen.
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