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7/26/2012

Follow me and live abundantly - a guest post by Kay Olson, CSB

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“Sell what you have and give to the poor...and follow me.”  Now, this is a Radical Act!  It was Jesus’ recipe for the man who wanted to be assured of eternal life. But it also relates to another Radical Act of Jesus: "To live abundantly." Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

When Jesus suggested the man sell all his stuff, he didn’t take it very well.  It must have been a shock to consider losing all his possessions and, then, to give money away. Although he was promised "treasure in heaven", maybe heaven seemed far off. So, he walked away.  (See Matthew 19:21)

But surely, Jesus didn’t intend for the man to become homeless and hungry.  Perhaps he perceived that the man cherished things and money more than he valued a spiritual outlook.  Maybe the radical move to let go of his material possessions meant to leave a material way of thinking and living for a spiritual standpoint that would open him to spiritual and tangible abundance.

I think the third point of Jesus’ instruction is really the key: “Follow me.”  The way I see it, when we follow Jesus - his teachings and his way of living - we have everything we need.  And more. We have abundance. We learn what eternal life is.  And we learn to live that life now.

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Eternal life isn’t an endless extension of material living. It is everpresent spiritual life without limits. It is heaven on earth, available right now; and we can find it by clearing away the mental and material clutter that distracts us from our genuine spirituality.

Of Christ Jesus, Mary Baker Eddy - Discoverer of Christian Science - wrote, "Understanding the nothingness of material things, he spoke of flesh and Spirit as the two opposites, — as error and Truth, not contributing in any way to each other's happiness and existence. Jesus knew, 'It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.'" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 356)

I recently asked myself, if Jesus asked me to do what he asked that man to do, would I? Or would I walk away? 

My husband and I live in different states and have been taking turns living in my house and his house. More and more, we stay in his house. One day, thinking about my empty house, a tiny thought skittered by, “Maybe you should sell your house.” 

I pushed the thought away.  “I love my house!” 

The tiny thought became more insistent.  And, I began to see how sensible it was.  So, I made the decision to go ahead and list it for sale.

Then, an insistent thought loudly clamored, “Since you have a full house here, you will have to sell, give away, or trash everything you own.” 

Was I ready to get rid of all my possessions?

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While thinking about that, another thought gently flittered to me:  “Are you living with your possessions now, or just thinking about them?” 

Of course, I was only thinking of them. I could give my children whatever they wanted, sell the rest and still think of them. 

Now, the house is listed, the children have their names on the things they would like to have, and I see there will be opportunities to give to the poor.

All this is well and good. But what has me really excited are my prayers to more radically follow Jesus - to live and love more generously, to cherish my spirituality more than material thoughts and things, and to live my abundant, eternal, unlimited life every day.  

Kay Olson is a Christian Science practitioner and teacher.  She contributes regularly to this blog and is loving the summer project on Time4thinkers.com: Radical Acts of Jesus. 


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If you are interested in this, or other Radical Acts we're focusing on this summer, check out these links:

1. BE childlike.
2. BEFRIEND lepers, prostitutes, “undesirables.”
3. CAST the beam out of your own eye.
4. CHALLENGE Pharisees.
5. DO GOOD to people who hate you.
6. FEED the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter strangers, visit prisoners.
7. FORGIVE 70 x 7.
8. HEAL the sick, cast out evil, raise the dead.
9. LIVE more abundantly.
10. LOSE your life to find it.
11. LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
12. MULTIPLY loaves and fishes.
13. SEEK the kingdom first — don’t worry about food/drink/clothing.
14. SELL what you have - give to the poor.
15. TAKE up your bed and walk.
16. TRAVEL without a wallet.
17. WASH someone’s feet.
18. WALK on water.


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Diane Marrapodi
7/26/2012 06:14:02 am

Hi Kay, great post! You beautifully explained how living in obedience to Jesus' teachings results in the grace to give, share, be wise, make progress. Truly, a gift...thanks so much!

Karin link
7/26/2012 07:15:20 am

It seems to me that the man's motive for obeying the 10 Commandments (which no one can do perfectly, so even his saying that he had kept them from him youth up was not strictly true) was for himself, that he might be seen as righteous and receive a reward.

The one thing he didn't have was love for others. Jesus' request of him, which he never, that we know of, asked of another, pointed to this need, to think of others.

I loved your points.

Michelle Nanouche
7/26/2012 07:59:43 am

And I loved yours! Thanks!

nancy
7/27/2012 03:06:05 am

Exactly.Jesus had already made it clear : "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kindgdom of heaven".(Matt 5:20, NRSV)

Barbara
8/1/2012 06:00:52 am

“Are you living with your possessions now, or just thinking about them?” I love this thought! I can apply it immediately to my own situation. It reminds me of when my mom retired from teaching. She was an amazing, loving, and creative teacher. She had created and collected a ton of "good stuff" that she used daily, but now would not need. She had made a large image of a clown that was taped to the wall and announced who the helper of the day was. She wanted to keep it, but . . . what use did it have now? I said, "Mom, I'll take a picture of you with it, and you can keep that picture!" I can't remember if another teacher got the clown or if we just disposed of it - in any event Mom moved on to MANY other blessings!


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    Michelle Nanouche, Christian Science teacher, spirituality, healing, prayer

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    I have practiced Christian Science professionally in
    some form since 1979.
    But my journey with
    Christian Science started
    in a Sunday school
    where as a young child
    I was taught the Scriptures and some simple basics
    of Jesus' method of
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    A significant experience
    at the age of twelve
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    After impaling my foot
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    Within moments
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    By the next morning the wound had disappeared completely.
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© 2011-2021 Michelle Boccanfuso Nanouche, CSB. All rights reserved.  Pages reviewed and updates 6/30/2021.