Heart – attachments
by Ruth Olsen
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Peter answered [Jesus], ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’ (Matthew 19:27)
Read Matthew 19:16–30
What is it that your heart holds dear? Is it your loved ones, career, body shape/appearance, reputation, bank account, mobile phone, health or faith? It can be different for each of us, likewise at different stages of life.
I have probably moved through each of those stages; however, my faith – my relationship with Jesus and, through him, with Abba Father and the Holy Spirit – has been central since I was about 18 years old, with much growth, development and adventure along the way.
Whatever our heart is focused on will absorb our attention. And if there have been hurts and wounds along the way, leaving us broken-hearted, then our focus is much more muddied. But it does not have to stay that way!
The wealthy young ruler in our Bible passage thought he had it all together except for the surety of eternal life. Jesus replies to his question with a question, to which the young man replied, ‘Which commandments?’ Had he not heard that if we break one of the commandments, it is the same as breaking all of them? Jesus then challenges the young man on his ‘heart focus’ to ascertain whether he was really seeking eternal life.
Then comes the conversation about a camel passing through the eye of a needle as a descriptor of the immense pull – and even addiction – that material wealth and possessions can have on our hearts’ priorities. This led to Peter’s spontaneous question voicing what was probably on each of their minds – and most likely on ours too! ‘What about me/us?’
We like being first. We do not like being last. Yet God’s perspective and priorities are very different to ours. For us to settle with his priorities, we must surrender our heart’s desires to Jesus and ask him to be central in all we are and do. If we are willing to let go of our grasping after the things of this life, we will discover the joy of a bigger picture and purpose to our life with him here on this earth.
Lord, help us be real and honest with you and with ourselves. Search our hearts; enable us to recognise our priorities and change them where your Spirit prompts. Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’
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