When Riches Become a Weight
When we release what weighs us down, we discover the freedom of walking in the fullness of Jesus.
Devotional Credit: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Oswald Chambers draws us into the sobering moment when the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus, not because he misunderstood, but because he understood all too well. He knew exactly what was required and could not bring himself to surrender. His sadness was not confusion, but a grief born out of clinging to what he would not release. Chambers points us to the uncomfortable truth that sometimes the Lord speaks into the very things we are most “rich” in and asks us to yield them completely.
This richness does not always mean money. It can be temperament, talent, reputation, relationships, or even the pride we hold in how devoted we believe we are to God. When His word presses into these places, we may find ourselves speechless with sorrow, realizing how tightly we grip them. The Lord does not argue with us, He simply repeats the invitation: “If you would follow Me, these are the conditions.”
Chambers insists that this is the battleground of the will. It is here, when all pretenses are stripped away, that we stand before God not as someone bringing possessions, achievements, or excuses, but as a conscious being who must yield all. The call of Jesus is never softened to fit our desires. He calls us not to a version of discipleship on our terms, but to Himself, fully and without reserve.
The piercing question remains: are we more devoted to our idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself? If we are, discouragement will always be nearby, because discouragement is simply disenchanted self-love. Only when we are emptied of self, whether the self-image of being “somebody” or the self-pity of being “nobody,” can we walk in the fullness of life in Him. Chambers, with clarity and love, reminds us that surrender to Jesus is not loss, but the entry into freedom.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My child, when I ask you to let go, it is not to leave you empty but to fill you with Myself. Do not cling to your treasures, whether they are possessions, talents, or relationships, for they cannot give you the life that only I provide. In Jesus you have everything you need, and what you release to Me becomes the very ground where My abundance grows.
You are crucified with Christ, and you no longer live, but He lives in you. You have been bought with a price, and you are Mine. Your riches in the flesh cannot compare to the surpassing worth of knowing Him. Lay aside every weight that entangles you, and you will find that My yoke is easy and My burden is light. In yielding you discover rest, and in surrender you discover true freedom.
Do not fear the emptiness that follows release, for in Me there is fullness of joy. The world’s treasures fade, but I have given you an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade. When you are weak, My strength is made perfect. When you are poor in spirit, My kingdom is yours. Yield to Me, and you will know that I am your life, your peace, and your joy.
Scripture References: Luke 18:22-23, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 11:28-30, Philippians 3:7-8, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Hebrews 12:1-2, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Peter 1:3-4, Matthew 5:3.
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine trying to carry a heavy backpack stuffed with unnecessary items onto an airplane. The airline staff tells you it is too heavy, and if you want to board, you must leave it behind. At first the thought of losing what you packed feels unbearable, but once the weight is off your shoulders, you discover the joy of walking freely onto the plane and soaring above the clouds.
In the same way, Jesus asks me to release the things that weigh me down. Today, if I catch myself gripping tightly to something for my identity or security, I can quietly yield and say, “Lord, I trust You to be my life in this moment.” In that trust, what seemed like loss becomes freedom, and what seemed impossible becomes the place of peace.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that You have already provided all I need in Jesus. I rest in the truth that surrender is not loss but life. I rejoice that letting go of my so-called riches is not the end of my joy, but the doorway to knowing You more fully. I trust You today with every part of me, confident that in You I have gained far more than I could ever release.