DECLARE AN EGO FAST

Luke 18:18-25
18 A certain ruler asked Him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" 21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. 22 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." 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Do you know anyone who begins every sentence with the word "I"? No matter what news you have, what exciting exploit you talk about, or what interesting topic you bring up, these people shift the focus of the conversation to themselves. They are at the very center of their universe. They want all eyes focused on them.

The young man in today's Scripture probably had a life centered on himself. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" he asked Jesus (Luke 18:18). He had everything else. Saks Fifth Avenue robe. Dodge Magnum chariot. Birkenstock sandals. Meals in all the best Dead Sea-side restaurants. But he wanted one thing more--eternal life.

He had been religious his entire existence. Whatever the law required, he did. But now, Jesus had identified the one thing the man did not have--the ability to give up his precious possessions and not be centered on himself. "Sell it all," Jesus said. "Get rid of all that stuff you love. Follow Me."

But he couldn't do it. He slunk away and the Bible says no more about him.

How about us? Do we begin every sentence with "I"? Do we love our clothes, our cars, our houses too much? Are we infatuated with pampering our bodies? How much of our time is spent thinking about our own interests, what we want to purchase next, what we look like?

Here's a challenge: Declare an ego fast. After praying and asking God for help, make a deliberate, honest attempt to spend 24 hours without talking about yourself, your wants, your wishes. Consciously focus your mind on God and on others. It will change your life!

Lord, help me to replace the mirrors that surround my life with windows, so that I can see You and other people more than I see myself. --Dave Egner

DESTINATION POINTS

* If I stopped talking about myself, how much would I have left to say?
* How many hours per day do I spend thinking about myself, my wants, and my wishes? How can I begin to diminish it?

bottom line: Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

soul journey