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With only a few more shopping days until Christmas, I want to challenge us all to get others a gift this Christmas by giving up something we all have been possibly holding onto in our own lives. Below is your shopping guide with step by step instructions in the pursuit of the gift for others...

Step One:
Begin shopping in Matthew 19: 16-22. Read through these verses a few times.

Step Two:
Re-read the verses, exchanging your name with the generic man’s name.
“Now a ___________ came to Jesus...”
insert your name

Step Three
Re-read the text exchanging verse 18 with the following text:
“Which ones?” Jesus replied, “Go to church as much as you can, read the bible when you have time, pray at least during meals and if you have time before bed, try to love everyone...”

Step Four
Re-read the text exchanging verse 20 with the following text:
“All of these things I have done,” ______________ said. “What else do I lack?”
insert your name

Step Four:
This is the most difficult step. Re-read verse 21, leaving the blank as an open ended question for Jesus to reveal to you.
“If you want to be complete, go, ________________________ and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Explanation for Step Four:
Although Step Four is the most difficult step, it is the step in which the gift for others awaits. You see, many of us are really good at going through the “motions” of being a follower of Jesus. But Jesus did not die on a cross for us to be a “subpar” follower but complete “cross bearers” in making him known in the seeking world around us. But for this to happen we have to give him all of us.

The cost lies within giving up that one thing that you have held onto in your journey with Christ. For the man in the story it was his wealth. It wasn’t that the wealth was a bad thing, but it was the one thing that kept the man from experiencing intimacy with Jesus.
For you and I it is the one thing that keeps us away from the abundant life Jesus refers to in John 10:10. It may be wealth, an idol, fear, etc. But the greatness of the story is that when we give up whatever it is that keeps us from completely following, Jesus’ promise awaits you. He promises in this passage that if we give up whatever keeps us from completely following him, treasure in heaven awaits us.

And just what is that “treasure?” Check out a description of this treasure in Jesus’ words from John 15

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last...” Excerpts from John 15: 7-17

Breaking it down...
In the story of Matthew 19, Jesus is really telling the “man” how he is to be part of the “fruit producing” vine that is referenced in John 15. In being a part of this vine, Jesus promises the man “treasures in heaven” in which we understand that being “forever fruit” in lives of people that will be with us in heaven someday. Sadly, the “man” doesn’t want to surrender his life to Jesus, and walks away sadly.