Don’t hold on too Tightly

What would you consider necessary in your life? What would destroy you if you lost it? Is it a relationship, position at work, possession, money, or something else in your life? Where do you relate this compared to your relationship to God? If God asked you to give that thing valued by you up, would you, do it?

The bible has a name for those things that keep you from trusting and honoring God: an idol. God has a strong feeling when it comes to idols in your life. If you are looking at things other than God for your sense of acceptance, accomplishments, and security then you are heading down a slippery slope.

Remember the story of the rich young ruler? We learn that we are not supposed to be idolatrous of our wealth and possessions, nor should we long for the riches of this world before the riches of God.

There is nothing wrong with having money or nice things; however, it does tell us to not put these things above God. So, don’t hold onto things of this world to tightly. One day when we leave this world, we are not taking it with us.

1 Timothy 6:7 - 13

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you.

Message in Chinese

不要抓得太紧

你认为生命中哪些东西是必不可少的？如果失去了什么，会让你崩溃？是一段关系、工作的职位、某样财物、金钱，或是你生命中的其他东西吗？你把这些与你和上帝的关系相比时，摆在什么位置？如果上帝要你放下这些你珍惜的东西，你会愿意这样做吗？

圣经把那些让你无法信靠与尊崇上帝的东西称为“偶像”。当你生命中有偶像时，上帝对此有非常严肃的态度。如果你把接纳感、成就感、安全感寄托在上帝以外的事物上，你就正走在一条危险的滑坡上。

还记得那个富有的少年官的故事吗？我们从中学到，不应让财富和财产成为我们的偶像，也不应该把追求世上的财富置于神的丰富之上。

拥有金钱或好东西本身并没有错；然而，圣经提醒我们不要把这些东西放在上帝之上。所以，不要紧紧抓住这世界的事物。因为有一天，当我们离开这个世界时，我们带不走任何东西。

提摩太前书 6:7–13

7 因为我们没有带什么到世上来，也不能带什么去。8 只要有衣有食，就当知足。9 但那些想要发财的人，就陷在试探、罗网，和许多无知有害的私欲里，叫人沉在败坏和灭亡中。10 贪财是万恶之根。有人贪恋钱财，就被引诱离了真道，用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。11 但你这属神的人要逃避这些事，追求公义、敬虔、信心、爱心、忍耐、温柔。12 你要为真道打那美好的仗，持定永生；你为此被召，也在许多见证人面前作了那美好的见证。13 我在那赐生命给万物的神面前，并在向本丢彼拉多作那美好见证的基督耶稣面前嘱咐你……

Don't Hold on too Tightly