Day 34 - David Nam
Is there a specific Bible passage or verse that comes to mind in the context of “Less of Me and More of Him”?
Mark 12:41-44 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.
I am a greedy and prideful person. And the combination of the two reveals the ugliest part of my character. My pride fosters greed and distastefully uses it as a measuring stick of my being. Increased wealth and income, for a moment, mark my place in an amorphous world. Never satisfied, my sick heart says “more.”
Every time I read this passage, my heart weeps because I see how sinful and broken I am— I am a slave to my greed and pride. And every time, I am challenged to the root of my self-worth because if I measure myself by wealth and income, what does it mean if I am to give everything away? Of course, I am to be worthless, and ironically, worthless I remain, even if I were to obtain all the riches because I remain a slave.
So what can change my heart? “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44). Christ is the only answer. Only by intimately knowing the love and grace He had shown me can I be like the man in the parable, ready to sell everything I own to have Christ. There is nothing else I know that is more powerful than the gospel to break my chains and bring me to tearful repentance when confronted with my sinful nature. For this, I declare hallelujah and amen!
Briefly explain which areas of your life you find most difficult to surrender to Christ.
Money and status have been the lifelong surrender in my life. When I am far from God, when I am pleased by my station, I forget my self-worth and measure myself by the riches and successes of this world. But when the gospel confronts me, I am reminded over and over again of where my true worth lies.
Share the areas of your life that have shifted from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness.
Not that I have overcome temptation, but by God’s grace, love, and mercy, He allows me to say “no” to the dollar. He reminds me that my self-worth is in Him and that the things of this world are what He had made. Therefore, everything I have, he can give and take away. When God reminds me of this truth, my heart desires to please God and be a cheerful giver.
What are some practical ways you can display Christ to those around you?
Often, when we read the narrative of the poor widow, we are too quick to discount the material message and too quick to receive the spiritual one. People often tell us that God wants the totality of our hearts. But I believe God wants not only our hearts but also to let go of what is holding us away from Him. In my case, this means money and everything it promises: comfort, security, and status. To display Christ, for me, I must be a cheerful giver.