We like to DO. It leaves evidence. It's measurable. We have something to point back to and say, "See, there's proof."
It is precisely these motivations that prompt someone to ask Jesus, "What good thing do I need to do so that I can go to heaven?"
Jesus' answer is two-fold. (Matthew 19) First, he says that we need to keep the commandments. Jesus singles out the ones that make for good inter-personal relationships: don't murder, don't lie, respect your parents, and love your neighbor as yourself. Those all seem pretty reasonable. I can DO all of those "good" things and still hold on to those things most important to me Loving my neighbor as myself is probably the harder one, but I can be comfortable with that... most of the time.
Secondly, Jesus ups the ante. He does this just because doing what's comfortable isn't enough. He is consistent with himself, and, back in the Old Testament, he requires "all our heart, all our soul and all our mind." That is still the requirement today. Remember how he says that where our treasure is, that is where our heart is? He addresses that as the second requirement for eternal life: putting aside our treasure. Whatever it is that holds our heart is our treasure. Jesus says that we have to let go. "Impossible!" you say. "I can't DO that." Yep, he beat you to that. He says, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." (v. 26).
Putting aside our treasure, the things that hold our hearts, is an inside job. It's not measurable, data driven, evidence based. That is why we much prefer to default to the "doing" that allows us to say, "See, I'm doing good things for God. Certainly I will have eternal life."
What are the things that hold our hearts? Relationships, things, goals, hobbies? They are not bad in and of themselves. The problem is when these things have our heart, soul and mind all wrapped up in them. They need to be held with open hands rather than in a white knuckle grasp. A heart that is acceptable to God is a heart that is wholly his. There really is nothing to loose in light of eternity. There is only eternity to gain.
Lord, help me to keep my hands open. This is only possible with your help.
