I’ve recently been amazed by some of what I’ve read in the Bible. Last night I started reading and couldn’t stop and today I read and wow. I just, I don’t see how America and the world has come to view possessions so highly, and come to be so … just opposite Jesus message. This doesn’t even count me out, I am in the same category, but.. just listen to some of these verses.

Matthew 10:38-39

“and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Mark 8:34-38
“then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Luke 9:23

“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Luke 17:33

Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

Mark 8:35

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Mark 16:15-18

>”He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”"

Matthew 10:7-10

“As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. “

Mark 6:8-13

“These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

Luke 9:1-6

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. ”
They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”

Luke 18:22

“Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Luke 16:9

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Now a lot of these are saying basically the same things. I think that only re-emphasizes the point. Lose Your Life, Carry Your Cross, Take Nothing, Give everything. Why do we find it so hard? Well because it’s so simple, and so basic, that we almost don’t believe it. Jesus tells us he will take care of us and provide for us, but we just can’t accept that. He has a plan for us. It is so hard for us, especially Americans to give up our possessions and everything because we have known no different. I think we all need to reevaluate our lives and our possessions. We need to ask ourselves what is most important, Jesus and eternal life, or the here and now?