Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I read a story of a troublesome monkey in India. The monkey discovered people had great treats in their homes, especially peanuts! Each day he raided their homes, taking choice treats with him. The people tried catching him without success. Then, a little girl – trying to sneak a treat herself – came upon an idea. She put a bunch of delicious peanuts in a jar with a skinny neck. The next day, they found a frustrated monkey – trapped. His fist clenching the peanuts he desired. But he couldn’t pull them out of the jar because his fist wouldn’t fit. Needless to say, the monkey made no more thieving forays into people’s houses … all because he couldn’t let go of the thing he desired the most.
A man came up to Jesus asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:18) The man, in his opinion anyway, had followed the law perfectly. Jesus responded to his claim, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” The man went away sad because “he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21-22) Like the monkey, the man couldn’t let go of the one thing keeping him from receiving eternal life … his reliance on his own achievements and the things they brought him.
Jesus isn’t condemning wealth or possessions. These things are, like time and talent, gifts from God to be used. But what we use them for signals where our faith is. Do we – like the man, like the monkey – cling with all our strength to things of this world, including our achievements and good works to save us? Or do we release them, clenching our fists around the one thing that can save us … faith in Jesus Christ? In faith, do we respond to God’s love for us, freely releasing our gifts in service to others, while trusting God to continue providing us with all we need – including, sometimes, our favorite treats?
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim