The Center of Our Love

Scripture
 
Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich.

Observation

The ruler had been so careful about following the letter of God’s law. He believed that it revealed his love for God, but he didn’t realize that true love of God was revealed in his love for others. In reality he was consumed with a self-centered love that focused on himself and his personal wealth. Beyond that he wanted the approval of those around him that he was a religious man. Jesus got to the heart of the man’s motivation when he touched on what was most important to him. To be a disciple would have cost him much more than he was willing to pay for it would have cost him his place at the center of his own life.

Application

We may not be aware of what we might find at the center of our affections. I think that the ruler was probably surprised that day at discovering the motivations of his own heart. He had thought that he was doing everything right. These were the things he had been taught since he was young, but now Jesus was talking about the things of the heart.

We may be doing a number of things right in the eyes of the church and the world, but when Jesus begins to touch on our motivations we can become quite uncomfortable. Sometimes we simply don’t want to be that vulnerable, nor are we always willing to do the things that Jesus may want us to do. It’s at that moment that we discover what really is at the center of our love.

Prayer

Lord, in that moment of self-evaluation, please help me be obedient to your call. Amen.