Jesus taught the most startling of things during His earthly ministry. He taught us that the world's principles are opposite Kingdom principles: that in order to gain we've got to lose; that we've got to be humble to be raised up; that we've got to give in order to receive. Yes, He taught us what our sinful human nature doesn't want to do.
One of the most profound teachings of the Lord Jesus is one that He taught a rich young religious man. We read their conversation in Matthew 19:16-22, and when we do we can't help but notice what the Lord told the young man,
"Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."" (Matthew 19:21)
Did Jesus really mean that?
Based on those words, many of us might make the wrong assumption that following God requires us to be miserable and broke. If that were true, God would be such a tyrant who wants His people to suffer. But no, He's not that kind of Father.
We know that the Lord Jesus doesn't make jokes with His words. He Himself told us to be careful with what we say:
"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37)
By His standards, we know that Jesus always means what He says. He never lies.
On the other hand, we know that Jesus loves to speak in parables in order to drive a point to all who are listening. Matthew 13:34-35 tells us,
"All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
"I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.""
What did Jesus mean?
Now that we understand that Jesus doesn't lie or mince His words, and that He loves to speak in parables, we can simply conclude that Jesus was giving a serious lesson through an important command.
And that lesson is to put Him as top priority, far above any other human priority that could ever exist: finances, necessities, enjoyment, and everything else. We don't need to be poor literally; we just need to prioritize Him more than our possessions, income, and savings, and have compassion for the people He loves especially the poor.
If we choose to follow Christ, we must be willing to forsake ourselves. We must be willing to lay down our life for Him. He died for us; we ought to live for Him. If we desire to follow Him, we will follow Him through and through with all that we are.
In closing
Friends, Christ was serious when He told that young man to put Him on a higher level than his riches and own comfort. This goes the same for us: we ought to deny ourselves if we want to follow Him. He said it Himself:
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (see Matthew 16:24-25)
