To Be Counted Worthy

Each of us has a guarded widow's mite*,
Stored away in his castle's inner keep**,
Pending the day when need's at greatest height,
And parting is at best least bittersweet!
Oft he checks its hidey hole to assure
It continues as safe as ever was;
And not for aid that the mite could insure,
For spending it he almost never does!
How that miser's mite ever shapes his fate,
Nursing it close to his stingy bosom;
More than its worth, it does his gift abate;
Dim his vision; slow his work accustom!
He must give away what he treasures most
To be counted worthy for heaven's host!

*mite = penny; **keep = castle's stronghold

We often explore in these pages what is required for being kept in the love of Jesus, because that is necessary for salvation. These are found in the New Testament and vary considerably from person to person.

"A certain ruler asked him, 'Good teacher, what must I do to be saved?' 'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good----except God alone. [Jesus knew that He Himself was God. He was hoping the young man's faith was advanced enough so that he would state affirmatively that Jesus was God, thus revealing that he was already saved; He quickly learned the weak level of the ruler's faith.] You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' 'All these I have kept since I was a boy,' he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.' When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man with great wealth." (Luke 18:18-23) [brackets added]

It was not his wealth that kept the man from heaven; it was his love of it; he loved it so much he could not bring himself to give it up and follow God. The moral is, that anything of this world that is more important to you than God is an idol, and it stands between you and God/ Here is a thought question: You have a family that you love and are responsible for. God calls for you to quit your job and follow Him into full-time Christian service; you will have to start over, go to seminary, and begin a new life in some other country. Do you have enough confidence in God that you will do it?