loosen your grip

We all have something here on this earth that we cling to, something that is so valuable to us that we are deeply afraid of losing it.  For some, it might be money or material possessions.  For others, it might be a position or a job.  For me, that thing is relationships.  

I reread Matthew 19:16-26 this morning.  I have it marked in my Bible, and I go back to it often.  This is the passage that recounts Jesus' interaction with the rich, young man who wanted to know how to obtain eternal life in heaven.  Jesus' answer (paraphrased by me) was sell your possessions, give away your money, put your treasure in heaven, and come follow Me.  The young man sadly walked away, because he wasn't willing to loosen his grip on his possessions.

This morning, I found new meaning in this passage.  I know that Jesus is the only way to heaven, so why did Jesus tell the young man he had to give everything away?  Jesus wanted to be the man's #1 priority.  And He wants to be my #1 priority and He wants to be yours. 

I use the words "let it go" frequently.  In my mind, letting something go, means not only loosening my grip on it, but flinging it far away from me.  (I don't do anything half way!)  I've wrestled for a long time with the importance of human relationships in my life.  I tend to put more energy into my relationships with other humans than I do into my relationship with God.  There are many reasons, but none of them are valid.  My question to God has been, "How do I let go of human relationships when you have called me to be in relationship?"

Several weeks ago, God gave me an answer, and He reminded me this morning.  His answer was "loosen your grip".  NOT let go and fling them far away.  Our #1 priority in this life should be relationship with Jesus and following Him.  Our time, energy, and effort should be directed toward that one goal.  Possessions, positions, and relationships are not bad things, but they should never distract us from our #1 priority!  If they do, we need to loosen our grips!