Give up all my possessions?!

[public hermit]

When Jesus teaches us that in order to be his disciples we must give up all our possessions (Luke 14:33), does he mean that literally, metaphorically, spiritually? What is your interpretation and why do you interpret it that way?

 

[Dave L]

When Jesus teaches us that in order to be his disciples we must give up all our possessions (Luke 14:33), does he mean that literally, metaphorically, spiritually? What is your interpretation and why do you interpret it that way?

He says you receive one hundred fold more in this time when you do. The idea is to make him your source, not money.

Not wanting to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, I gave up my musical career and began living the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:24-34). Seeking first the kingdom of God as a career. To make a long story short, I began working unskilled labor part time as unto the Lord. And retired early out of my own pocket, never missing a day's work even through two major recessions and job closings. The Lord is faithful.

 

[public hermit]

Maybe it helps to know the word translated "renounce" in the KJV is apotassomai meaning: to withdraw from, take leave of, renounce, send away...literally to say, "Good bye." Strong's G657

G657 ἀποτάσσομαι - Strong's Greek Lexicon

 

[Jude1:3Contendforthefaith]

Eastern Orthodox Monks do that OP :

 

[bèlla]

Materialism wasn’t part of my upbringing. We were taught to value quality and the importance of financial discipline. Money was a tool and not a state of mind or ones identity.

I was not a believer when I worked in finance. But God enabled me to prosper much. My short stint in real estate provided the avenue for additional growth and an exodus from the workforce.

When I came to faith I determined to follow His leading and seek His purpose. Whether that meany full-time ministry or something else. I wanted to pursue His will for my life.

As He led me towards my purpose I surrendered my time and resources to its effort. I was given a ten-year business plan with clear instructions on what to do for each phase. He revealed its focus and who I’d serve in the process.

Its undertaking requires training and the development of new skillsets that I’m funding out of pocket and through my business pursuits. He has honored my faithfulness and willingness to deny myself on behalf of the mission He’s given me to perform.

I have been home full-time since my mid-thirties and have the privilege of working for Him in a comfortable environment and in good health. I am richly blessed.

 

[public hermit]

Eastern Orthodox Monks do that OP

That is admirable. I love that. What about everybody else?

 

[~Zao~]

When Jesus teaches us that in order to be his disciples we must give up all our possessions (Luke 14:33), does he mean that literally, metaphorically, spiritually? What is your interpretation and why do you interpret it that way?

Christ renounced all He had in order to regain it again. He became a slave after giving up all the riches of heaven to perform a work for us. Disciples are never greater than their Teacher, to which He claims exclusive rights, disciples are required to follow Him wherever He goes.
Christ has now claimed a position for His disciples in the heavenliness, seated where He is seated. Reasonable service is now to Romans 12:1-3

 

[public hermit]

As He led me towards my purpose I surrendered my time and resources to its effort.

Would you say that His statement that His disciples should give up their possessions means to be willing to use them according to His will? Or, to eschew materialism with a view to using whatever is given to us for His purposes?

 

[mama2one]

follow

 

[bèlla]

Would you say that His statement that His disciples should give up their possessions means to be willing to use them according to His will? Or, to eschew materialism with a view to using whatever is given to us for His purposes?

The answer is in verse 27. The purpose of His statements before and after is to impress the necessity of putting God above all. Including ourselves and loved ones. And that entails a sacrifice which He calls our cross. Much like His sacrifice on the cross for us.

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Where we err in our interpretation is the assumption that our cross is the same as another’s. Mine isn’t money because I have no attachment to it. He challenges me in my relationships and that’s where my spiritual warfare usually comes.

 

[public hermit]

To be fair, maybe I should lay my cards on the table. I don't know that this statement should be taken literally. Our Lord makes this statement in the context of asking us to count the cost of following him (Luke 14:25-33)

"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?" (Luke 14:26-28-NRSV).

Jesus is using hyperbole in these verses. I seriously doubt the same One who taught us to love our enemies is now telling us to hate our family, loved ones, ourselves. Or, to break the commandment to honor father and mother. But, I do think he is saying that He takes precedence, our primary allegiance is to Him. If our relationships, or our possessions, or even if our own lives come into conflict with our allegiance to Him, then they must give way to Him. He comes first. So, how do we count the future costs of following Him? We can't. Who knows what it will cost us? It may cost us more than we estimate, or maybe less. Who knows what he may ask of my possessions in the future? I don't even know what I will possess in the future. Who knows, he may ask for my life.

Moreover, we humans have a tendency to hold a tight grip on relationships, possessions, and even our own lives as if they are our own. But, they aren't. My relationships, my possessions, even my own life...they are all a gift. And, they are gifts he has every right to ask me to let go of. He may need them, or they may keep me from him.

All that to say, I think at the very least he is asking us to let go of the tight grip we tend to keep on our relationships, our possessions, our lives. Don't hold on to them as if they are your possessions. They are not. They are his, which he has shared with us as a gift.

This is my interpretation, but I am a fallible creature and open to receiving a better one from others.

 

[mama2one]

My relationships, my possessions, even my own life...they are all a gift. And, they are gifts he has every right to ask me to let go of.

neighbor's trees fallen on our house twice so we never know if our house will be here or not when we come home

thank God for husband and child all the time
we adopted our child so feel doubly blessed

all we have in our lives are blessings/gifts from God

 

[devin553344]

I just willfully give my possessions to the Lord and help the less fortunate with them. I'm like that and don't donate tithe to any church as I can help the poor directly and therefore trust myself more than a church to do it

 

[bèlla]

Moreover, we humans have a tendency to hold a tight grip on relationships, possessions, and even our own lives as if they are our own.

God’s goal is sanctification and holiness. He knows the sacrifices and challenges that will bring that about.

So, He calls me to marriage even though I never desired it and would be comfortable with a long-term partner. But the commitment and sacrifice will work things in and out of my character that singleness won’t. Singleness exacerbates the issue and resigns me to a carefree lifestyle that I enjoy. Really enjoy!

The same is true for my connections. If left to my own devices I’d surround myself with likeminded people whose lifestyle and background mirror my own. I’d have little diversity and a narrow perspective of the world. Much narrower than I have.

So, He leads interesting people my way who I’m unlikely to encounter on my own. I’m naturally adaptable and this often leads to interesting experiences.

Or He highlights someone’s character in a way I hadn’t perceived to illustrate their value as a companion. This is a new one. I hope we pass this phase very soon.

 

[public hermit]

Singleness exacerbates the issue and resigns me to a carefree lifestyle that I enjoy.

I feel your "pain." I have never been as content as I have been the last several years single. God would have to work a miracle for me to give that up. Am I holding on to my singleness too tightly, too much like a possession? Probably, yes. Lol

 

[Bible Highlighter]

When Jesus teaches us that in order to be his disciples we must give up all our possessions (Luke 14:33), does he mean that literally, metaphorically, spiritually? What is your interpretation and why do you interpret it that way?

Here is the best article I read on the topic that really cleared things up for me on this issue.

Is giving up all material possessions a requirement for being a true Christian?

 

[bèlla]

I feel your "pain." I have never been as content as I have been the last several years single. God would have to work a miracle for me to give that up. Am I holding on to my singleness too tightly, too much like a possession? Probably, yes. Lol

We are having some interesting discussions on this subject. Which I lovingly refer to as, “He’s getting in my business.”

Now its His of course! But He proven His ability to move my heart by filling it with a loving regard that didn’t exist. I didn’t have an opportunity to decline. I was floating on a cloud of joy and recalling a testimony which echoed the same. ~lol

Derek Prince recounts his marriages (he was a widower once) in God is a Matchmaker. He said he didn’t have romantic feelings for his first wife but knew the Lord was bringing them together for a purpose. He went on to describe how He filled him with love for her. The same was true for his second wife.

Having learned my lesson, I hope we’re in agreement. But I sense He isn’t done. ;-)

 

[public hermit]

Here is the best article I read on the topic that really cleared things up for me on this issue.

Is giving up all material possessions a requirement for being a true Christian?

"We as Christians should rather “seek the Kingdom” as verse 31 puts it. We should desire or long for that, which has a future, rather than material riches. It is all about focus!" That's helpful. Thank you for sharing the link.

 

[public hermit]

We are having some interesting discussions on this subject. Which I lovingly refer to as, “He’s getting in my business.”

"He's getting in my business." I like that. He does have a way of doing that.

 

[Mathetes66]

Mark 1:16-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon & his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “& I will make you fishers of men.” And AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS & FOLLOWED HIM.

19Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee & his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets. Immediately Jesus called them & they LEFT their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men & followed Him.

Luke 9:23-26,57-60 Then Jesus said to ALL OF THEM, “If ANYONE wants to come after Me, he must deny himself & take up his cross daily & follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL SAVE IT.

25What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of Me & My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory & in the glory of the Father & of the holy angels.

As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens & birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, FIRST let me go & bury my father.”

60But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go & proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but FIRST let me bid farewell to my family.” Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow & THEN LOOKS BACK is fit for the kingdom of God.”


Mark 10:17-31 As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up & knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father & mother.’ ”

20“Teacher,” he replied, “I have kept all these from my youth.” Jesus looked at him, loved him & said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, SELL EVERYTHING YOU OWN & give to the poor & you will have treasure in heaven. THEN come, follow Me.”

22But the man was saddened by these words & went away in sorrow, because he had GREAT WEALTH. Then Jesus looked around & said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words.

But Jesus said to them AGAIN, “Children, how hard it is FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN RICHES to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them & said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

28Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have LEFT EVERYTHING & FOLLOWED YOU.” "Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has LEFT:

home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields--for My sake & for the gospel will fail to RECEIVE a hundredfold in the present age—

houses & brothers & sisters & mothers & children & fields--ALONG WITH PERSECUTIONS & in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are FIRST will be last & the last will be first.”

The lives of Charles Thomas (C.T.) Studd & his wife.

C.T. Studd - Missionary to China, India, and Africa - Worldwide Missions

C.T. Studd - Personal Testimony - Worldwide Missions

Other lives:

https://www.christiantoday.com/arti...s-who-gave-up-everything-for-christ/85936.htm

As to my life as a spiritually born again Christian, I have given up all to follow Him. I have never owned a home, although I have been given them & found it to be true that we receive God's wonderful blessings in this life when we simply leave whatever hinders us from following Christ in order to actually follow Him when called to serve where He leads us.

I have discovered that wherever I go, I am now a STEWARD of all that He gives me & it is used for daily provisions & meeting the needs of others & furthering the gospel.

I was truly humbled to leave college without any debt, the last of what I owed was anonymously paid off by others unknown.

He has called me to various states to be involved in ministries, seeing people come to Christ & Christians going on to serve the Lord on the mission field, in the pastorate & other fruitful ministries.

I have had a business that the Lord wanted me to start. I was a steward of it. I had many opportunities to share the gospel & relate to others of the goodness of God. God has always brought people to me who had needs & His provision was more than enough to meet those needs. His promise to me was:

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD & do good; dwell in the land & enjoy safe pasture--cultivating faithfulness.

I have prayed about & sought to go overseas in missionary endeavors but the Lord has never led me YET to do so. So I continue to be faithful to what He has me do.

The Lord may have you to be a witness on a job or raise a family but when He calls, will we answer, to follow Him elsewhere?

I am presently a caregiver for my dad (almost 90), who had a stroke and several TIA's since then, as the Lord has led me in this endeavor now. Since I presently don't go around like I did before, I have prayed that God would bring people here & to help my neighbors. He has abundantly done so. The reputation around the neighborhood is that we are Christians & help others. Neighbors send their friends in need to us & we are able to share the goodness of the Lord.

Last month we were able to help a couple whose car had broken down & had no money to fix it. We helped provide the means to get parts & another neighbor helped get it running & they were off again.

Several years ago (dad still drives short distances!) dad was driving from the local town a few miles away & felt moved by the Spirit to help a lady stuck on the side of the road. He couldn't communicate with her so he came & got me.

She was deaf & couldn't speak so would write things down. She lived near Seattle, almost 80 miles away. She was stuck on the freeway at a spot no one stops.

She had a card for an expired road service she gave me. I was able to use that & get her re-instated. They came & towed her & took back up north where the car was able to be fixed.

As we were waiting, I wrote down that the Lord is our Provider, Jehovah Jireh & that He would provide for her. She wrote she was a Christian & had prayed for the Lord to help her. She hugged both dad & I before she left.

God takes care of us! Be stewards of what He has given us, ready at a moment's notice, if the Lord would have us to sell something He has given us or give it away, to meet the needs of those to which He has directed us.

Let go & leave the things of this world, in order to follow Him, wherever He leads you. Seek first His kingdom & His righteousness & He will provide for our needs. We are stewards.

George Mueller is one more example for all of us.

George Muller Evangelist, Orphanages, Bristol, England - Christian Biography Resources