“So He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.’”
Luke 18:29-30
God gives more than He asks
The rich young man was not able to give up his possessions to follow Jesus. Seeing this, the Lord explained that it would be difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. This remark worried the disciples. Would they be able to enter, knowing that they had given up everything to follow Jesus? Jesus reassured them: God would give them much more than they had given up for Him.
To be saved, we must follow Jesus Christ and renounce many things.
What you have to leave
Jesus asked the young man to give up his wealth. He did not demand this of all His disciples. Joseph of Arimathea, the disciple who placed Jesus’s body in His tomb, was a rich man (Mt 27:60). But God asks all His people to value their fellowship with Him more than material things. A true disciple of Christ would rather give up a material possession than break the law of love for God and neighbor.
Christ asks us to leave our homes. He does not forbid us from having a home. He Himself took pleasure in staying at Mary and Martha’s house. The house here symbolizes the place where we are comfortable, where we can do what we want. Whoever wants to follow Christ must give up their comfort. Following Christ requires a lot of effort and struggle.
Christ asks us to leave our parents and brothers. Here, family represents the society in which we live. We do our duty in society, but we do not let it dictate our conduct. We obey God’s law, even if it puts us at odds with society.
Jesus asks us to leave our spouses and children. Again, this is an image. Peter and the other Apostles were married, and we know from Paul that their wives accompanied them on their travels (1 Cor 9:5). The Lord alludes to a precept of the law of Moses: if the child or woman you cherish urges you to serve other gods than the Lord, do not listen to them (Deut 13:6-8)!
To follow Jesus, we must renounce ourselves (Mk 8:34). We must renounce all aspects of our personality that hinder our fellowship with Christ.
Different sacrifices
The Lord did not impose the same sacrifices on all His disciples. Not all had to die a martyr’s death. Only some Christians pooled all their possessions. Today, God does not ask for the same sacrifices from all of us. Thus, not all His children are called to be ordained. Being chosen for a ministry is beyond human understanding. But God is not unjust: He gives to each one more than He requires of them.
The sacrifices that come with ministerial activity
Because of our ordination, we are sometimes led to make special sacrifices:
- We have less time to devote to our professional careers, which can put us at a financial disadvantage;
- We have to give up a certain comfort—we have less free time, and we share in the suffering of those who are entrusted to us;
- We are less available for our family. Let us note that our mission is not an excuse for not taking care of our own. It simply forces us to focus on what is essential. Our wives and children need our attention, consideration and love above all;
- We must renounce ourselves. Abandon ideas that do not correspond to the teachings of Christ. Be willing to look weak to preserve peace and unity. Not to be offended when others reap where we have sown.
What God gives us in return
But these sacrifices are more than compensated for by the blessings the Lord gives us:
- We are surrounded by many brothers and sisters who love us and pray for us;
- Our ministerial activity enriches us—we discover the many facets of Christ’s love for His people, and verify His faithfulness to them;
- In Christ, we have a friend (Jn 15:14) who is always available, who understands, forgives and helps us;
- And above all, God leads us into eternal fellowship with Him.
Following Christ is essential to be saved. It implies sacrifices. The Lord always gives us more than we give up for Him.