A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have life forever?”
Matthew 19:16
I never would have thought that the words click and collect would become so important in my life! Yet since the pandemic, those words have been at times a lifeline! I admit that I have never liked food shopping and today even less so what with social distancing etc. But how grateful I have been to be able to do a click and collect. Also, a lady from my church has kindly shopped for me at times and I have duly gone to her house to click and collect. So many thanks – you know who you are.
Today though I want to leave us with what God wants us to click and collect and you might be surprised.
The verse at the beginning tells us a man wanted to collect eternal life. Don’t we all? Jesus had an answer which became his Achilles heel. An Achilles heel is a weakness in spite of overall strength, which can lead to downfall.
The rich man did not realise he had an Achilles heel when Jesus quoted the five commandments dealing primarily with our fellow man, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Blind to his own weakness, the man boasted that he had always kept these commandments. Jesus though exposed his Achilles heel by telling him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. Then he should come to Jesus and follow Him. For the rich man, it seemed impossible, for he would not do what Jesus asked and went away grieved. Not the click and collect he wanted.
Now let us look at another man; Charles Thomas Studd, often known as C. T. Studd. He was a famous cricketer. He played for England in the 1882 match won by Australia, which was the origins of The Ashes. He was a British cricketer, missionary and a contributor to The Fundamentals.
He had to admit that cricket would not last, and honour would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but “it was worthwhile living for the world to come.” He proved it for while in China. At the age of 25 years old his wealthy father, Edward died leaving him to inherit a large sum of money which he gave away. Yet unlike the rich man, C. T. Studd gave away his inheritance of £29,000.
Now you need to know that £100 in 1885 is worth £11787.95 today; so C. T. Studd’s fortune of £29,000 is worth in today’s money a staggering £3,418,505!
Those who benefited were:
- £5,000 to be used for the Moody Bible Institute,
- £5,000 for George Müller mission work and his orphans,
- £5,000 for George Holland’s work with England’s poor in Whitechapel, and
- £5,000 to Commissioner Booth Tucker for the Salvation Army in India.
Jesus knows that life is about priorities. Jesus is not saying despise money, don’t have any money, Jesus just knows the power and control worldly things can have over us when we put them first.
The Bible makes it clear; seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. Jesus wants you to receive eternal life first by putting your faith in Jesus who died for you and took away our sins. Sin prevents us having a relationship with God which is eternal life compared to having just life on earth. When we ask God to forgive us by believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God restores our broken relationship and that is what matters above all else. All the fame, riches you can collect will only last a few years, yet Christ offers you something much more valuable and substantial.
So let me leave you with a couple of questions……
What is your Achilles heel?
How difficult is it to give up that Achilles heel?
Stay safe and blessed