Drop your baggage (riches and needles)

I agree that it's simply easy to misunderstand GOD and his word if you're passively reading through the bible. Especially when you're reading with a closed mind.

One of those days, I thought to snoop through the waist bead of pictures my friends had dumped on their WhatsApp statuses as usual. I stumbled on a friend's opinion about the rich man and the needle, it struck me because there was a bit of lacking in his thought. I have learnt not to involve myself in a religious brawl, since I am not a religious person myself. I'm just a woman who loves GOD and desires intimacy with HIM.

Back to the story, it's been months and I can't get over it, more like a hangover!

Whether or not it was an actual needle or a gate somewhere like my mum would say, the meaning is the same.

You'd find the story in Matthew 19:16-24, read the next three verses after the story. JESUS  spoke in parables simply because He needed us to learn how to scratch the surface, of course the rich man and the needle in common knowledge sounds like GOD intends for us to be poor, or we would serve better when we're broke. Whereas, that's not true.

In verse 20, we see that the man was a keeper of the law(commandments), and the Lord commended him. Next verse was where it choked. "Sell your riches, give it to the poor, and follow me" sounded really wicked! However, what people fail to understand is that, this was an encoded statement.

It simply meant "take your mind off your life and trust me with it" a simple measure of trust. For the sake of analysis, it is very normal to back ourselves up with the thought of being sufficient to cater for our frivolities and needs as they come.

Early in January, when I still fought my current state and was always engulfed by anxiety, what helped me sleep better was the thought that I had a flexible investment of 130k which was yielding in bits. As I began to settle in, I gradually took my mind off that because "I could die and it would be free money for my next of kin". This is life.

The man didn't understand the depth of this, which was understandable since he never really heard JESUS teach First hand.

The "eye of the needle" for the actual needle, is where you slip a thread through, a knotless thread goes all the way with ease.

To GOD, your material wealth isn't the point, it is your trust in Him that He weighs.

I have asked myself "why didn't the rich man press on further to figure this out?

To prove this, remember Joseph of Arimathea? He might as well be rich for him to have had a tomb just carved out for him to be buried in when he dies! He was a disciple and he didn't have to "sell" his stuff!

Drop your baggage by the door! I'd give it all to you a thousand fold, I'd sustain you, but seek me first.

This man was downcast because he already did a 360 analysis of how life without his wealth would look like, "I can't risk it!" He simply said, and walked away with his head down.

This journey is in phases; first, you don't desire GOD. Second, you decide to desire GOD, then there is the phase where you want to be in total submission. This is when serious bottleneck-hard decisions are made, the rich man was in this phase.

Now, I've met guys who like to mark territories around their women. Imagine I'm in a relationship with that guy, and another guy with just as much influence! You get it don't you?!

It's that simple.

The rich man didn't trust as much, because he didn't understand.

It's not about money alone! There are other material stuff we cling to with so much dependence and affection.

Whenever I would take an interview and never get a call  back, my dad would give me this story;

As at the time he first applied for a job, he got a recommendation letter from the local government chairman to back him up, mind you my dad didn't have a glamorous childhood, so he needed this job more than oxygen. Things were looking good, he probably already told everyone he had the job (as par faith talk). Until he got to the notice board and saw another name (told us the name because it stuck), my dad said he walked away and came back to take another look. Nothing changed but this time, he emotionally worshiped GOD for giving the job to that man. He felt the man needed the job more than he did at that time, also, if GOD had sorted that man's own, he's NEXT!

See, there's NO MAN that'll trust GOD wholeheartedly, that He forsakes. Even if He does, SO WHAT?! what do you really have to loose?

If you want to serve, you ought to submit! Trust my love completely. Come in with a heart that is set for me.

Do not come without a conviction, hold up! One time, I decided to buy a scarf. I didn't know the exact price, but had made up my mind to get one for myself (if you've met me, then you should know I love slaying headwraps).

When I got to the shop, the lady brought out some and one caught my attention (it was vintage! And I love vintage. I already know I'm going to buy a Mercedes 190 and take the roof out later in the future to add to my collection of antiques. My fantasies people, my fantasies!). I picked it, beaming with smiles as I waited to hear the price. When she said it, the last thing I remember was how I immediately couldn't breathe because the price had choked me! Boy, I knew I won't go back home without a scarf and after all the futile negotiations, I STILL PAID.

It's the same thing! When your conviction is strong enough, the Holy Spirit eases your sacrifices.

For further reference, see Jer 9:23,24  and  1 Tim 6:18,19 (read with a simplified translation). If you ever want to talk, I'm open.

Welcome to new month. ❤