What you have has you.

What you have has you. My friend Paul Barclay used to say that to us all the time. What you have has you. He was quoting his wife who was quoting her old pastor – who really was just saying what Jesus said.

For whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 18:18…

Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

For whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.

But what you have has you. This man had great wealth. He walked away sad.

Because the first part was too hard…sell everything…it was so hard he couldn’t hear the second part…the you will have treasure in heaven.

The desire for abundance is God given…but what you have has you…

Luke 18:35…

What do you want me to do for you?

Why did Jesus ask him this? He was blind!

But what you have has you.

What did this man have? Actually, what he had was the absence of something. The absence of sight. And the same way that what you have has you – what you don’t have can also have you…can’t it.

Sometimes all you can think about is the job you don’t have…

The health you don’t have…

The marriage you don’t have…

The life you don’t have…

And what you have not has you!

Luke 18:41-43

Follow me…

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.

Jesus told the man: “Sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me…

Immediately, he followed Jesus…

Follow…

What you have has you…

What do you have when you follow Jesus?

What do you have when Jesus has you?

Luke 18:31-33

These are the verses between these two stories…the rich ruler and the beggar…

Why are these verses here? Was there something that Luke wanted us to notice?

That like this rich ruler that came to Jesus… that Jesus was a rich ruler as well…

Colossians: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created, things in heaven and things on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were made by him and for him…

Think about it, If ever a man was wealthy…Jesus was wealthy.

If ever a man had authority…Jesus had authority…

He was the rich ruler…

Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing…he sold everything he had…taking the very nature of a servant…he gave to the poor the powerless…to us…and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!

Luke 18:31-33

What you have has you…

And what you have not can have you as well…

What do you have? What do you lack?

What do you want me to do for you?

Do you get? Do you understand?

That Jesus came to do for us what he alone could do for us?

He denied himself, he took up his cross, and he became obedient to death.

He left his throne…and came for you!

He gave his life for you!

Will you give your life to him?

What has you, tonight?

Is there something you are holding on to? Is there something you have that has you?

Or are you holding on to the lack of something? Has the fact you have not, prevented you from embracing the love of Jesus?

Have. Have not. Either way. Probably both.

Would you surrender it tonight to Jesus?

Would you give yourself to him? Would you give what you lack to him?

Friends, If you had to answer the question: What do you want me to do for you?

How would you answer it?

Oh Lord help us! Help us be the men and women God created us to be!

And may the truth that you are our shepherd – that we don’t need anything…

Your hand to guide me…

Your love to possess me…

May what I have in Jesus – have me! May it have you! Have us!

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen