“There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Having just celebrated Christmas, the image of all of that used wrapping paper being shoved into big plastic bags is still fresh.  Every year I think about the amount of paper, money and time that goes into the wrapping of the gifts and then in an instant it all gets torn and shredded and thrown away.  And every year, it jars me to remember that much of what we “wrap” ourselves up with in our business is just as unimportant as wrapping paper.  We spend a bunch of effort, money and people’s time getting the wrapping right, only to have it figuratively and literally thrown away after the presentation, meeting, project ending, etc.  I’m not saying that some, or many times, we don’t have to ensure that the wrapping makes the right first impression, but let’s not forget that when opened, it is what is inside that is remembered, and the wrappings; well can you remember the patterns or the paper of the wrapping on your last set of gifts?

When Jesus told the rich, young ruler that all he needed to now do was to sell everything and give it to the poor, He wasn’t telling us that we can’t strive and work hard to be successful, etc. but He was telling us to not get wrapped up in the things that become more important than obeying what He wants us to do to fully follow Him.  The rich, young ruler had wrapped himself in all the things that he personally couldn’t give up and so they became a barrier to following Jesus.  In this account, Jesus challenges us all to ask ourselves whether or not we are paying too much attention to the wrapping and missing the gift!

Reference:  Luke 18: 22 (New Living Translation)