Mark 10:21-27
Are you concerned you're not giving enough money to your church? You should be! Consider Jesus' interaction with a rich young man in Mark 10:17. The man asks Jesus what he must do to be saved - a question that we all ask ourselves with regularity. But far from talking about faith in God or dependence on Himself, Jesus talks to the man about his money. The man who wants to know how to be saved says he's been keeping all the commandments since his youth. He's basically telling Jesus that those things are easy, child's play, even.
"One thing you lack," Jesus said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (v. 21). Mark says that the man was shocked to hear this, "and went away grieving, for he had many possessions" (v 22).
When we think about how to be a good steward, we often use the tithe, or 10 percent of income, as the standard of good stewardship.
But Jesus doesn't ask the rich man for 10 percent. He doesn't ask him for 25 percent. He doesn't even ask him for 50 percent. He asks him for everything! Apparently for Jesus, the standard for good stewardship is nothing less than every stitch of clothing on your back and every stick of furniture in your house. You have to give everything away.
We might well echo the disciples, who, upon hearing this, whispered to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus' response contains some of the most comforting words in all Scripture: "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" (v. 27).
The standard of good stewardship is too high. So with the pressure to be good removed, think about what you actually want to give. Just know, as you consider your giving of your time, talent, and your treasure, your relationship with God is secure in the gift of Jesus Christ, not in the size of your offering. The righteousness God requires cannot be achieved. It can only be received. And thankfully it is given to us for free.
-- Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,