Go sell all that you have ...

In Jesus' conversation with the Rich Young Ruler, we read (Mark 10:21-22)

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Thinking about it personally, I don't really blame the Rich Young Ruler.

I live in a culture which tells me to save up for my retirement.  Superannuation is compulsory.  Adding more to one's superannuation is advised, so that one may live comfortably in one's retirement.  People are clambering to buy houses while interest rates are low.

In another culture, people borrow from one another.  Having only one ladder in the village is enough, as not everybody will need to use that ladder at the same time.  They are happy to share.  Here, people value self-sufficiency more.  Many own their own ladders even if they hardly ever use them.

It would be seen as irresponsible to sell and give away everything in this culture where savings and self-sufficiency is such a strong value in the society.

However, Jesus turns it around.  He says (Matthew 6:25-30)

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

God supplies all our needs. He cares for us.  Without His supply, we do not even have the energy to find a job.  Or do the job.  All our strength and money are blessings from Him.  And He is able to meet our needs.  Why do we worry?  As we trust God to supply, there is not the need to cling to wealth and self-sufficiency in the way our culture dictates.

But to hold the tension between these two values is not easy.

Mission organisations feel the need to make sure that members are cared for.  Due diligence to make sure that members can pay of their debts.  That they spend within their means.  That they have saved up something through superannuation for their retirement.

How do you think Christians living in this culture ought to live between the extremes of this tension?  How do they "give away everything" to follow the Lord as well as to be responsible under the value system of the society?  By tithing?  But tithing is only 10% and is not "everything"?

How do we put God first, and let God rule our lives if we hold back?

What do you think?  What do you believe?