“Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:17-22 NKJV
Generous God,
Some people inherit much and some are born into poverty. Ganted fortunes do change but not everyone has the same opportunities. But here I do not think You are addressing politics, social backgrounds or wealth. As always You are speaking to the state of heart of a person. You knew this man had tried being good and tried very hard to keep all the laws and yet did not feel he had made peace with You. And he was right. Being good and trying hard does not lead to salvation.
I used to get ‘could try harder’ at school and I resented it. I could never be good enough. Jesus was at peace and he did not spend every minute of every day doing a good deed, or healing someone. He directed us to His source – You, Good Father (Mark 10:18). As a new Christian I had thought this passage meant I should give my all literally and I struggled with that as I had responsibilities and family. Then I took up a new hobby and it was all encompassing and I realised how easily something could become the centre of my life, and push You to one side Lord. Anything can become more important than You. Jesus saw that this man worshiped his wealth. I have known very wealthy people manage their wealth for You Father.
We all have to pay bills, provide for family, support our local church, prepare for the future. But then we have the joy of giving. The pleasure of regular support and seeing how it changes lives. The pleasure of giving when You God touch our hearts to help. Sometimes we are the ones who have been helped by a gift and recognised Your hand in it Lord God. Thank you. Teach us how to hand all we have over to You and learn how to use it wisely for Your glory.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 6th November 2026
I was about to skip over this and then was distracted for a moment as it started. I started to follow the words. It held me to the very end. Sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone! You, are the centre of our life and direction, and the Lord of our pound, dollar, Euro . . . ?
If this life has anything to gain at all
I’ll count it loss if I can’t hear you, feel you, cause I need you
Can’t walk this earth alone
I recognize I’m not my own, so before I fall
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone
With every breath I take, with every heart beat
Sunrise and the moon lights in the dark street
Every glance, every dance, every note of a song
It’s all a gift undeserved that I shouldn’t have known
Every day that I lie, every moment I covet
I’m deserving to die, I’m just earning your judgment
I, without the cross there’s only condemnation
If Jesus wasn’t executed there’s no celebration
So in times that are good, in times that are bad
For any times that I’ve had it all I will be glad
And I will boast in the cross, I’ll boast in my pains
I will boast in the sunshine, boast in his reign
What’s my life if it’s not praising you?
Another dollar in my bank account of vain pursuit
I do not count my life as any value or precious at all
Let me finish my race, let me answer my call
If this life has anything to gain at all
I’ll count it loss if I can’t hear you, feel you, cause I need you
Can’t walk this earth alone
I recognize I’m not my own, so before I fall
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone
Tomorrow’s never promised, but it is we swear
Think we holding our own, just a fist full of air
God has never been obligated to give us life
If we fought for our rights, we’d be in hell tonight
Mere sinners owed nothing but a fierce hand
We never loved him, we pushed away his pierced hands
I rejected his love, grace, kindness, and mercy
Dying of thirst, yet, willing to die thirsty
Eternally worthy, how could I live for less?
Patiently you turned my heart away from selfishness
I volunteer for your sanctifying surgery
I know the Spirit’s purging me of everything that’s hurting me
Remove the veil from my darkened eyes
So now every morning I open your word and see the Son rise
I hope in nothin, boast in nothin, only in your suffering
I live to show your glory, dying to tell your story
If this life has anything to gain at all
I’ll count it loss if I can’t hear you, feel you, cause I need you
Can’t walk this earth alone
I recognize I’m not my own, so before I fall
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone
Glory was solely meant for you
Doing what no one else could do
With all I have to give (with all I have to give)
I’ll use my life, I’ll use my lips (my lips yeaaah)
I’ll only glory in your Word
What gift to me I don’t deserve
I’ll live in such a way that it reflects to you, my praise
If this life has anything to gain at all (if I have anything to gain at all)
I’ll count it loss if I can’t hear you, feel you, cause I need you
Can’t walk this earth alone (I need You)
I recognise I’m not my own, so before I fall (I’m not my own)
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone
Songwriters: John Williams, Le Crae Moore, Christopher Cobbins