Do I Need to Give It All Away?

This past weekend (September 29 – October 2, 2011), I attended a retreat at Laity Lodge near Kerrville, Texas (address is Leakey, Texas).  “Laity Lodge is dedicated to enabling Christians to know Jesus deeply and to serve him in the everyday places of their lives . . . while reveling in a small bit of heaven on the Frio River.”  This is a part of a larger ministry (Foundations for Laity Renewal) to help, especially, the laity, “To serve God by creating opportunities for people to encounter God for the transformation of daily life, work, and our world.”

At the retreat, my wife and I were visiting with David Rupert (a contributing editor for The High Calling – another ministry of the Foundations for Laity Renewal) who produces the weekly newsletter for The High Calling.  He noted that one of the difficulties he faces is getting articles that help people focus on how to live out their faith in relation to their “secular” job(s).  That got me thinking about something that many a lay person in the church has brought up from time to time in studies.

Quite often emotions rise when people consider the “rich young ruler” (Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30) who comes to Jesus wanting to know how to “inherit eternal life.”  This is the one who goes away sad when Jesus tells him to sell all he has, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Jesus.  Through the years, I’ve heard many responses to this story:

• Questioning:  “Does Jesus want me to do that?”
• Fear:  “I haven’t done that.  Is God upset with me?”
• Side-stepping:  “Jesus is just testing him; Jesus doesn’t really want him to do that.”
• Clarification:  “I feel like I’m following Jesus, but I didn’t sell everything.  Is that okay?”
• Obstinance:  “Jesus is crazy if he thinks I’m gonna sell everything and give it to the poor!”

I’m sure there have been others, but these are the ones that stand out to me.

Here’s my take:  I think Jesus did want that one person to do just that.  I think Jesus has called others to do the same or similar actions, but not all.  The water is obviously muddied, though, when we see Peter say after the man has gone away sad, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”  Jesus responds by affirming Peter and the other disciples who have done this: “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”

Since Jesus has responded in this way, doesn’t that say that Jesus expects all to do the same?  Am I wrong in thinking that Jesus calls only some to this extreme level of dedication?

Luke’s take, though, gives us an important insight.  In just thirteen verses after the interchanges between Jesus, the rich young ruler, Peter, and the disciples, Jesus tells the disciples what to expect when they get to Jerusalem (which they don’t understand), and Jesus heals a blind man outside of Jericho.

Then, chapter 19  of Luke opens with the story of a tax collector named Zacchaeus.  Jesus sees this one of short stature in a tree and says, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.”  Many grumble that Jesus would associate and go to the home of one who was so despised by many in that 1st century culture.  Yet, Jesus’ willingness to share with him brings about a vast change of heart in Zacchaeus who says, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”

Jesus’ response is NOT, “Sorry Zacchaeus.  You have to give all your possessions, not just half.”  Neither, does he respond, “Zacchaeus, I need you to quit your job as a tax collector.”  Jesus doesn’t even say that he needs to follow him on the way to Jerusalem.  He simply (yet profoundly) exclaims, “Today salvation has come to this house!”

Not everyone is called to give up everything and follow Jesus.  Some are called to give what they are able to supply the needs of those in need and to work in their “secular” with integrity, being sure to not defraud.  In doing so, I believe a divine element is brought forth and expressed in the “secular” world allowing others an opportunity to see God in their midst.