Subtle Obstacles

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples.

Luke 14:33 (NIV)

What leads some people to reject God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ is their attachment to the material possessions they own. These things are too precious in their eyes for them to give them up. Others, however—those who do not possess much—step forward without hesitation, convinced that, since they do not specifically own the very goods they would have to abandon, it will be easy for them not only to become disciples of Christ but also to remain faithful to the very end. It is only after taking this great leap of faith that they realize the "possessions" Jesus spoke of extend far beyond mere material goods.

One might say to oneself: "I can give up everything to follow Christ." Yet, once embarked on one’s Christian journey, one discovers that there are many other things to which one is attached—things that must still be surrendered. This is where the challenge becomes far greater. Whereas one previously thought only of one’s house, car, expensive clothing, and other such goods, one comes to realize that one’s lifestyle habits, one’s desire to be at the top, one’s tendency to look down on others, as well as the time spent glued to one’s phone on social media or in front of the television, also figure among these "possessions"—these things deemed too important—that must be renounced, just as resolutely.

You might object that the elements I have just cited do not constitute material goods. And you would be right. However, insofar as they cause you to falter in your walk with Christ or lead you to neglect your Christian faith, they act as the very foundations of your downfall. If you are not careful—no matter the fervor you displayed at the outset—you will gradually lose that zeal, giving way to those "little things" that seem harmless at first glance but which, deep down, become stumbling blocks in your life. When Jesus asks you to renounce everything you possess, what He is actually asking you to do is to set aside anything that might stand in the way of your life of discipleship.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.