ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 17, 2022
From his well known book, “The Prophet,” Khalil Gibran wrote: “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Those words have been playing in my mind for a month or so. Somewhere in my reflecting and grappling, I was reminded of Jesus saying to his disciples, “…none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions” (Matthew 14:33). Most folks point to the story of Jesus and the rich ruler, where Jesus said something similar. Again and again, people say, “Thank goodness Jesus only asked the rich young ruler to give away all his possessions.” But that’s not the case. As I continued to grapple with these ideas, I brought together Jesus’s suggestion that we must give away everything we own and the words from Gibran. Knowing Jesus would soon be inviting his disciples to give away a whole lot more than their possessions, was the invitation centered around material objects a sort of no-brainer as compared to the giving away of oneself? As I’ve said often, I’m far from ready to loosen my grip on much of my stuff, but it makes me wonder if I’m really ready to give away my life for the Gospel of God’s radically redemptive love.
Gracious God, prepare me in whatever way you see fit for the work of self-giving and self-sacrificing love. At this moment, I’m only sort of there, but I pray for the encouragement of your Spirit and the example of more faithful servants of Christ’s way. Amen.
