A Friend in Jesus I have found each moment that sin confronts me

A Friend in Jesus I have found each moment that sin confronts me

Usually we seek the Lord when sin becomes a companion even when our soul is free of evil.  But we are always aware that Holiness can become a realistic entity living within us because Jesus said to ask for it.  “So be perfect just as your Father is perfect.” (Mt 5: 48). 

What must we do to find that holiness which Jesus mentioned to his disciples?  Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”  He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?  There is only One who is good.  If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”  He asked him, “which ones?”  And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal;  you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  The young man  said to him, “All of these I have observed.  What do I still lack?”  Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  Then Jeus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”  (Mt 19: 16 - 26).

The understanding that we all must ponder is the fact that poor people are in a better position to find God and all that he requires rather than people who have everything and seek even more.  It isn’t because they are so selfish they don’t see the writing on the walls.  Their one problem is always seeking more money.  One question that was presented to a very wealthy man was what do you look for?  He said how to get more money.   What is the ultimate quest for rich people?  They never seem to have enough.  I know people who are millionaires and they do give to their Church and to many other people who are destitute.  But most are not that generous. 

Some people can not say since “we are poor so we are left off this scenario; not so!”  Even the poor discover that besides wealth of goods and money there are attributes that come by way of emotional gifts that they can use to lift someone else simply by showing compassion to one who is depressed or lonely.  These also are worth millions that must be given away.  The parable of the camel passing through the eye of a needle is apropos for all who claim to be followers of Christ and are expected to use what we have for our neighbor.

Looking around at life and the many differences that exist between the rich and the poor, the judgement to both will be the same when asked what they did for those who were in need of help and they shamefully will answer, “We didn’t think we had to give to those who were poor or lonely.”  

Ralph B. Hathaway