Right when the Son was ’bout ter set sail, a feller ran up ter him, fell on his knees, and asked, “Good teacher, what must I do ter inherit eternal life?”
The Son replied, “You know the commandments:
- ‘You shall not murder.’
- ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
- ‘You shall not steal.’
- ‘You shall not give false testimony.’
- ‘You shall not defraud.’
- ‘Honor your father and mother.’”
‘Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a wee lad.”
The Son looked upon the feller with compassion fer he knew the chap loved his worldly possessions. “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Well, that took the wind right out of the chap’s sails. His smile sagged and his spirits sank a bit. Problem be, this fine feller had great wealth, and ’em with lots of earthly treasures have a hard time letting go of what they can keep and spend.
“Truly I tell you,” the Son explained ter his disciples: “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age:
- persecutions
- homes
- brothers
- sisters
- mothers
- children
- fields
— and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Now think on this a wee little bit. We might be thinking, like the rich feller, that the words of the Son mean if we follow him we ‘ill get mansions and an abundance of kids and grandkids and land ter till. But perhaps what the Son be speaking of has ter do with yer heavenly family: ’em in the body of our Lord.
If we be among other believers they be our brothers, sisters, elders, and young’ens ter bring up in the Lord. Our local church be our “home” and our work fer the Lord be our fields. And if they hate us because we follow the Lord and teach and preach his word, he warns, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)
So, me hearties, as we sail through life alongside the Son, let it be known that the treasures we be seekin’ not just be in gold doubloons or silver goblets. No, the riches of followin’ the Son be beyond the grasp of lubbers.
In the fellowship of believers be the warmth of a true home. In the love of brothers and sisters, be the eternal promises of Skipper. Our bounty be as boundless as the seven seas, you may lay ter that.
Aye, those who follow Jesus ‘ill be rich in ways the world cannot imagine or understand, fer the greatest treasure be when we find ourselves in the arms of our heavenly Father and among our fellow shipmates on the other side of Davy Jones.
Sell all, mates, and sail on with the Son.
Loved this! Thank you.