Do I Want to Listen?

   This is a hard reading this morning. Not so much what Chambers is saying, but the implication is: Have I heard Jesus say this?

   All of the above is in reference to the narrative in Luke 18:22 which reads: "Yet lackest thou one thing; sell all that thou hast . . and come, follow Me."

   Chambers: "Have I ever heard Jesus say a hard word? Has He said something personally to me to which I have deliberately listened? Not something I can expound or say this and that about, but something I have heard Him say to me? This man did understand what Jesus said, he heard it and he sized up what it meant, and it broke his heart. He did not go away defiant; he went away sorrowful, thoroughly discouraged. He had come to Jesus full of the fire of earnest desire, and the word of Jesus simply froze him; instead of producing an enthusiastic devotion, it produced a heart-breaking discouragement. And Jesus did not go after him, He let him go. Our Lord knows perfectly that when once His word is heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later."

   It is more a question of security than of money itself. My devotion to Christ should be more than lip service, more than rules. True devotion encompasses the giving up of anything in my life that I put above Jesus Himself. Does that mean family, security, church, or even religion?

   I have a friend who heard Jesus tell him to do just what he said in Luke 18. He sold it all and gave it away, and in the process he lost not only his wealth, but also his family who did not understand what he was doing. Could I actually do that?

   The key to the whole thing is hearing Jesus give that command to me personally. Does He speak those words to me? Have I heard that, or do I even want to listen?

   Deep down, it is not only being willing to do what Jesus says, but actually doing it, if He says it to me.

   I have to ask myself again, Do I really want to listen?

   Really?