HOW TO BE PERFECT

HOW TO BE PERFECT.

"Jesus told him, 'If you want to

be perfect, go and sell all your pos-

sessions and give the money to the 

poor, and you will have treasure in

heaven.  Then come, follow me."

(Matthew 19:21 NLT)

The Scriptures tell us that the young man

turned and left sorrowful because he had

many riches.

We also know from the teaching of the 

Scriptures, that unless he later changed

his mind and repented, he is in hell to 

this day sorrowful because he kept his

riches.

It boils down to this one thing in God's 

sight.  To be perfect in God's sight we 

give up everything and follow only after

Jesus.

The following Scripture hit me in a new

way by reading it in a newer version.

I have not been trying to accumulate riches,

but what about the material benefits I have

now?

"Look here, you rich people:

Weep and groan with anguish

because of all the terrible troubles

ahead of you.  Your wealth is rotting

away, and your fine clothes are

moth-eaten rags.  Your gold and 

silver are corroded.  The very wealth

you were counting on will eat away

your flesh like fire.  This corroded

treasure you have hoarded will testify

against you on the day of judgment."

(James 5:1-3 NLT)

God has permitted me, thought just an old

retired man with not much, to be living

very comfortably.  But what about the little

bit of material goods I have.  

From the above Scripture I have begin to 

realize that even the little material blessings

that I have available to me, if not used for 

God, will be counted against me on that 

great judgment day.

Therefore:

"Yet true godliness with contentment

is itself great wealth.  After all, we

brought nothing with us when we 

came into the world, and we can't

take anything with us when we leave

it.  So if we have enough food and

clothing, let us be content."

(1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT)

has become my goal.

Is this why A.W. Tozer said:

“The man who has God for his 

treasure has all things in One.”