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CHALLENGES IN LIVING
TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY
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God Alone:
Life without Attachments
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by Tom
Caballes
And
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and
said to him, "You lack one thing: go,
sell all that you have and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow me."
Disheartened by the saying, he went
away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions.”
- Mark
10:21-22 ESV
The rich young man in this Scripture passage lived
a flawless life - almost. He followed the
commandments since he was young – what more can
anyone ask for in a model disciple? He was
sincerely wanting to follow God and inherit
eternal life. Yet he had one huge and critical
attachment – his possessions – which he could not
let go. Abraham was different: he was willing to
let go of Isaac when God tested him. Abraham fully
trusted God, in spite of what he probably thought
of and felt at that time. What about you? Do you
have “possessions” which you cannot let go of,
like the rich young man? Who or what is your
“Isaac?” It maybe your career, reputation, riches,
friendships, gadgets, or anything else. Check your
heart – are you carrying any unnecessary baggage
in life? Is God truly your rock, your hope and
your salvation? Is God your only portion, true
delight and real treasure? So How Do You Live a
Life Without Attachments
So How Do You Live a
Life Without Attachments, Living for God
Alone?
- Take a
look at your life. Is your life focused on
following God with your whole heart,
strength mind and soul? Are you willing to
follow the Lord to the end, come hell or
high waters? What drives you?
- Examine
carefully what occupies your time, talent
and money at the moment. Are those things
your attachments? Matthew 6:21 says, “For
where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.”
- Try to
live a simple lifestyle. At this age of
consumerism, it is very easy to accumulate
a lot of things that are distractions in
life. New gadgets will give you momentary
pleasure – until the next one comes along.
- The
critical thing here is living your life
with no strings attached. You have
everything you have, but at an instant you
are willing to let go of them.
- Is there
anything that would make you think twice
of letting go if needed? Even good things
in life can become attachments. Are you
willing to let go of your dearest
relationships in life? Are you willing to
die for your faith at any situation,
anytime, anywhere?
- Are you
willing to let go of your reputation, or
be willing to be identified with Jesus and
be mocked or laughed at? When you share
your testimony to others, this is the risk
you take. Are you willing to do it?
- Is God
truly your ultimate source of happiness
and contentment? Are you building up
heavenly treasures that will not rust, be
stolen or fade away? Are you looking
forward in seeing God face to face?
Other Scripture passages:
- Wait calmly for God alone, my soul,
because my hope comes from him. He alone is
my rock and my saviour - my stronghold. I
cannot be shaken. [Psalms 62:5-6 GW]
- Then Abraham reached out his hand and
took the knife to slaughter his son. But the
angel of the LORD called to him from heaven
and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said,
"Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand
on the boy or do anything to him, for now I
know that you fear God, seeing you have not
withheld your son, your only son, from me."
[Genesis 22:10-12 ESV]
- "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures
on earth, where moth and rust destroy and
where thieves break in and steal, but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal.
[Matthew 6:19-20 ESV]
- Other
references: Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:13-4;
Matthew 10: 37-39; Matthew 13: 44-46 and
Matthew 16:24-26.
For personal reflection or
group sharing
- Is
there anything in life that makes you think
twice of giving up if and when you need to?
- Have
you found true joy in God and God alone?
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Tom Caballes is the National
Senior Administrator and a National
Coordinator of the Lamb
of God, a community of the Sword
of the Spirit with 7 branches located
throughout New Zealand. Tom also leads
Kairos
New
Zealand, an outreach program for
high school, university, and
post-university aged people.
Tom and his wife Mhel and
their two daughters live in
Wellington, New Zealand.
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