Main Reading Luke Chapter 9: 57-62

How many times have we been in the situation described in the above mentioned reading? God calls us and we find it hard to part with the earthly things and ask God to wait for us.

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

That reluctance to let go can be none more clearly seen than in the attitude of Ananias and his wife Sapphira (Acts 5). The number of believers were growing and everyone was doing their part by selling off their belongings and laying the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. Acts chapter 4 describes the events in such a manner that it seemed as if no one needed or even cared about money and that funds would be provided to them one way or the other. Then why did Peter care when Ananias and Sapphira chose to donate only part of their windfall gain. If he hadn’t donated the money instead of lying about the amount he had received from selling his possessions he would have been alive and serving in God’s ministry.

To the outside world it appeared as they sold their entire property for the extension of the kingdom of God and maybe that’s what they were going for. Even when Peter confronted them they chose to lie.

The minutest of fear that Satan planted in their hearts of financial instability separated them from the kingdom of God.

God doesn’t want us all to part with our possessions and follow him but he wants us to part with the fear that prevents us from following him, in the case of Ananias and Sapphira their fear of financial instability. God want us to simply Let Go of all our fears and crossover the hurdles preventing us from doing his will. The young man (in Luke) wanting to bury his father represents those who feel they have still a lot to do in this world before doing God’s work. Jesus describes such people as unfit for the Kingdom of God.

Jeremiah was one of the most influential prophet during the period of somewhat dark ages in the bible. Yet he was always reluctant and his personal fears curtailed him to preach in an effective way. Still God used him immensely to reach out a generation that had hardened its heart to the lord’s ways.

God can use anyone in anyway, but we must Let Go of our fears and trust on him completely.