Mark 10:17-32 KJV
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,

As the season change and fall cleaning has arrived we have to ask ourselves how many things around are house is saveable items for the future. It interesting people save items they hope in old age will have value for retirement, and even purchase items they hope will bring them wealth. However many items are not made to last in our world today, so if you get a good item maybe it is of true value. Yet Jesus said to the rich man to sell all he had and give to the poor and he have riches in heaven. Is our world any different then in the time of Christ as far as physical needs and wants. I look around my house and some items could truly go and others I still using on a regular bases. We have to ask ourselves do we need those items in our life that have no value other then to be treasures we look upon or say "hey, look what I got". The truth be told possession are valued to help pay for one's future, yet if you sell all you have and give to the poor you will have riches in heaven. Meaning what you gave to help someone else in their time of need and in their poverty. I never meet a rich man that would sell all and give all the money he made off his possession to the poor, and I doubt Jesus has either. Want to go down in the world record book and in book of heaven as your story is recorded, perhaps that would be it. Perhaps the rich man can sell all, give to the poor and find his faith in God and knows God's provision in his poverty and then in his wealth.

The reality is God can knock a person down to enable them to see the need of another. However without ever being knock down the plight of the poor is not known. You can follow a poor person and see how they survive and wonder if they are truly happy and two are they content. If that poor person have faith in God his greatest treasure is his faith in God. Possession and things often hinder faith, but they do not have too. A nun,priest, and/or missionary, selling all they have to help those that they serve is not saving up treasurers of gold but years of hard labor in the mission field. People see the big wig evanglist on tv and think they got to have money. In truth they usually have a decent salary and even very nice cars. Their downfall is probably the rich people of this world. Someone will say let me buy or give you this for your pleasure and enjoyment. Poor man will have given all he had in their offering plate, only to come and leave the church with not even a loaf of bread for dinner. That is where I have to ask, what wrong with the picture. Why did the rich man aid the minister because he preached him into heaven without ever selling one possession much less all of it. Instead the gift came from the wealth of not his own perhaps but gift of a business associate. That is true life. To live humbly with money is harder then to live with jewels all around. Money always burns a hole in the pocket of a richman. My father use to say save your money your burning a hole in your pocket. I would look at the toys, or gadgets on the shelf as a child and wonder why I coudl not buy like other kids with money, because I was told to save. Yet I was told to tithe in church. True life but the reality of it tells the story of how the worlds collides from greed to giving and often even adults understand not.

Most good people have no issue of giving or helping someone, but sometimes people have no loose change, or even the extra money to do so. How had this wealthy man come by his possession had he earned it. Jesus did not tell the rich man to give him the money, he told the rich man to give the money he gain from selling of his possession to the poor. Rich man have many things stocked up that have little value. By giving it away or selling and giving money to the poor he would be honoring the Lord out of his abundance and ability to make money. A rich man seldom gain all his wealth from saving, he often learns how to wheel and deal. How to trade, and how to work hard for it. He knows how to make a buck. Then he learns to store that money to use that money when needed.

Disciple were concerned because they had given up even their family to follow Jesus. Jesus said no one has left all their family to follow him without reward. Yet the question is what must I do to be saved. It hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter heaven. It is arab saying but it is about the small doorway, tunnel leading into the city. The camel would have to kneel down and crawl through to get in, one at a time. It was a difficult process. Even so it was to protect the much larger gate from intruders or a batallion of men from taking the big gate by storm or attack. The wall around the city was for its protection.

All our efforts will not get us into heaven, though Christ said to the rich man he would have riches in heaven, if he sold all and followed. He obeyed the Lord by keeping his commandments. Yet the keeping of the law was not what saved a person. Neither could all the good works save a person. Though good works did you get you riches in heaven. God does pay those that do good works. Yet the problem lies does these things save anyone?

Week after week Jesus healed many and many he said their faith made them whole. We have to stop and wonder if faith can cause physical healing, Can faith bring about our spiritual healing. Faith is believing in God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Faith is believing that work on the cross that Christ died and rose again for the sins of the world and that God so loved us to give us eternal life.

I had a stray kitten at my door for three weeks, and that kitten is now in my house, not because I wanted, or my husband wanted it. However our new dog gizzy had compassion on it. Mongo still upset about it he is a male cat. However that cat can not be pleased easily, except with maybe a can of tuna. The point being does the devil want you? Only if he can use you or bring you down to his level. God wants to pick you up and lift you up for his glory. Yet God wants you because he loved you and created you. God can use anyone for his glory even the devil. The devil can destroy a person life, but God going to love and build you into a beautiful creation for his kingdom and his honor. Devil cares not how drunk you get or if you lie in a ditch. He cares not if you are well, though he may aid you to use you later.

God is love and he looking down and loving us as we are and wanting to rescue us from our faults, our sins and make us into beautiful creation made for his kingdom and his glory. Made because of love. Do you follow and sacrifice the things that can not take you to heaven or do you desire those things that can only satisfy you on earth. You can not take it to hell, God will destroy it though. God truly is a God of love. Follow Jesus for he will teach you to follow God even unto death. The early church gave of what they had and no one was without. Think if God's people operated in that fashion, who would be poor.

Dear Heavenly Father, grant us knowledge of belief and following you in the path of righteousness. Teach us to follow giving up the things of this world that has no value and trade it for the gifts and things of value even in heaven. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Acts 4:31-37 KJV
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.