That One Thing Though

What happens when following God requires surrendering the very thing you hoped He would leave alone? In this episode, we look at the rich young ruler and the attachments that quietly compete for our hearts, our trust and our obedience. 

Transcript

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Welcome to Living SQ with Indira Rebagreen. And in this space, we focus on applying scripture to everyday life, growing in wisdom, discernment, and a faith that can actually be seen. Have you ever asked God for direction? But deep down you already knew there was one thing you did not want him to touch. That one relationship, that one ambition, that one comfort, that one image of success, that one version of the future you already decided that you needed. Let's think about it. We want God's wisdom, we want his guidance, but sometimes we can have a quiet boundary drawn in our hearts. Lord, you can lead me as long as you don't touch this, as long as you don't lead me away from this. In the book of Matthew, chapter 19, we meet a young man who comes to Jesus with a serious question. Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life? He's seeking, he's respectful, he wants to know. Jesus points him to the commandments. He says, Yes, I have kept all of the commandments. And he asks, Is there anything else? That's a very bold question because when we ask God what is missing, we may be expecting one more thing to add to our lives, one more habit, one more discipline. But Jesus does not give this man an addition. He puts the finger on the attachment and he tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and he'll receive his treasure in heaven. Follow him. And the Bible says the young, rich ruler went away sad because he had great wealth. He came wanting eternal life and he left grieving because the invitation required surrender. Jesus knew exactly where this man's security and identity were rooted. The man could obey in many areas, but when Jesus touched on this area, obedience suddenly felt too costly. Sometimes the real test of our faith is not what we are willing to say yes to, but what we are willing to release and let go of. These things are not automatically idols, but anything good can take the place in our heart that belongs to God alone. And an idol is anything that becomes too expensive to obey God around. If God were to ask you to give something up and you're not willing to, that's an indication that that could be an idol. What do you keep negotiating around? What do you ask God to bless while refusing to let Him examine it? What brings tension into your spirit the moment surrender comes up? Sometimes the thing has such a grip on us because it represents more than the thing itself. So maybe it's not only the relationship. Maybe it's the fear that no one else will choose you. Maybe it's not only the job, maybe it's the identity you built around being impressive or needed. Maybe it's not only the money, maybe it's the promise you made to yourself that you would never ever struggle again. And this is where living SQ becomes deeply honest. Because spiritual intelligence pays attention to the places where our devotion becomes divided. It does not allow us to hide behind the things we do right while ignoring the one thing we refuse to place in God's hands. The rich young ruler could list his obedience. Jesus still addressed his attachment. So we have to ask the question: why does this have so much power over me? Whatever it is, why does the thought of losing this feel like I'm losing myself? Why do I become defensive when God presses me on this area? Why am I willing to delay obedience to keep this thing close? What am I afraid will happen if I truly surrender it and let go? This question is meant to lead us into a deeper freedom. Because Jesus was not trying to empty this man's life for the sake of making him miserable. No, he offered him treasure in heaven and the invitation to follow him. He was inviting the man into a life where his possessions no longer possessed him. And that is still the invitation. Surrendering is hard because we can feel the loss before we can see the freedom. We often see what we are giving up before we understand the freedom God is forming in us. And some of us are holding on to things that are already exhausting. We call it security, but it has become affair. We call it love, but it has become dependency. We call it purpose, but it has become the need to prove ourselves. The grip gets tighter because we are afraid that surrender means emptiness. But with God, surrender makes room for truth, trust, and freedom. So ask yourself this honestly. What is the thing I hope God never asks me to give up? What have I made untouchable? Pay attention to what makes you anxious or what you have to constantly defend. Pay attention to where you need to control the outcome. Our actions and responses often reveal our attachments before our words do. The rich young ruler stood in front of Jesus, received an invitation, and could not release what had claimed too much of his heart. We do not have to make the same choice. We can bring the thing into the light. We can admit where it has become too central. We can ask God for the courage to release it. Even if surrender comes with tears, even if we have to pray that prayer more than once. So the question today is: what am I still holding so tightly that obedience feels like lost? Because the thing you will not let go of may be the very thing showing you where your heart still needs to be surrendered. Learning to notice that and learning how to bring that before God honestly and loosen your grip before it hardens into an idolatry, that is spiritual intelligence. And that's living SQ. Part of living with spiritual intelligence is learning to pay attention to what surfaces quietly, including our dreams. That's why I created Sumnexis, spelt S-O-M-N-E-X-I-S. Sumnexis is a dream journal app that helps you capture and reflect on your dreams while they are still fresh. You can easily write or dictate what you remember, organize your entries using keywords, and track recurring themes over time. The app also includes supportive resources, including guided prayers. Sumnexis is built around one simple idea, biblical insights for the dreams you cannot ignore. You can learn more at Sumnexis.com and the app is available for your favorite device. Well, thank you for joining me today on Living SQ. Remember, spiritual intelligence is about developing wisdom and intentionality in how we live what we believe each day. If this episode encouraged you, feel free to share it with someone. Until next time.