If I called you up on the phone and said, “I have a foolproof investment to increase everything you have 100-fold, but you must invest everything right now with me, you must put it all at risk, and sign it all over to me right now.” What would you do?
If you’re broke with not much to your name, it might seem like a simple risk to take. If you don’t have a family or others that are counting on you for their food and shelter, or might be an easy risk to choose. But what if you are wealthy? What if you hear the responsibility for many other lives around you — how quickly would you say “No” or say “Yes” to such a proposition?
What if a powerful man that you knew was able to fulfill such a promise, and who is known for his integrity and his generosity, came up and made such a claim to you publicly for everyone to see this promise, this opportunity, he is extending to you. How would you respond?
Do you know that Almighty God, through Jesus Christ, has done this very thing for you — and not just promising treasures that can be stolen away from you, but He promises eternal treasure. It’s truly a free gift, and the treasure in return is immeasurable, but it does take faith to believe and receive it.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
Matthew 13:44-46 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.13.44-46.NLT
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 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.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:16-30 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.16-30.NKJV
What are you holding onto that needs to be surrendered, that needs to be sold, needs to be cast aside, needs to be removed from your life so that true blessings can pour in?
Will you?
Right now, lay it down.
Repent, confess, and surrender to the Lord wholeheartedly.
Come, seek the Lord foremost with complete abandon, and find what treasure is added to you.
Amen.
Harold J. Ballinger 