Christian Living

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Matthew awoke early Monday morning to face another mundane week of work…work…work. He dreaded facing the world; for the guilt of rejecting his own people weighed down his heart like his money scales at his station. The guards hovered around watching every move, smothering the joy anyone might try to experience from a high paying job like his. One after another, they stood in line before him to hand over their owed amount…and then some. Some were hardworking fathers with multiple children depending on them for survival. Others were widows who barely had enough left over after paying their amount due. The only satisfaction he felt at the end of the day came from the money sack he carried home. But even that enjoyment strained to thrive under the shadow of dishonesty.
According to the world’s standards, Matthew had everything. He was employed by the richest economy and he took home a fine income. His talents enabled him to be successful in a career of record keeping and attention to detail. His authoritative voice demanded payment from the locals and travelers passing through Capernaum yet flip the coin and the reverse side shows an empty and insecure heart. However great his life appeared to others, he knew it was all worth absolutely nothing. He didn’t have many friends except an occasional invite to the hideous and dark parties in which he found no fun for he didn’t grow up in that kind of environment as a Jew. Although his wealth placed him among the high ranks of society; his character brought him down with the worst of sinners. People all around him associated him with the lowlife of prostitutes and thieves.
But then everything changed this single day. As Matthew focused intensely on counting the coins and tracking the numbers, he became oblivious to the world around him. He remained unmindful until he heard, “Follow me!” The strange invitation scattered his thoughts as he lifted his eyes to see a Rabbi. Matthew wasn’t quite sure the religious leader was talking to him so he looked around only to find he was surrounded by no one. The holy man’s eyes were staring past his own eyes and deep into his heart. A Rabbi searching for students was unheard of in these times. But there he was, asking a sinner of all sinners to be part of his team. Something about this man enticed Matthew even to the point of getting up from his table in a brief moment, stepping away from all financial and job security, never to return again. And off he went…leaving it all…to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
Christ’s invitation is not any different for you and me. We have a choice no different than Matthew’s. Are we going to leave all our worldly securities and selfish gain to follow Him? What I find so exciting about Matthew’s story is once he took the leap of faith, God continued to use his talents and interests yet his job description changed. Matthew’s talent in record keeping and attention to detail was used by God to recount and record the life of Jesus. And this was not just some book published to be a best seller for a year and then discontinued after it lost its popularity…it was recorded as the Holy Word of God, inspired by God himself! Our mighty God empowers those who follow him in ways we could have never imagined. He created each of us unique so that we will fulfill His purpose for His Kingdom. He also never takes into account our past. Despite our sinful mistakes and out of his great love for us, he begins to use us the minute we answer the call. It all comes down to this: we leave everything for Christ, emptying all of “me” and He fills us with the Spirit of God to fulfill His purpose and plan in His Kingdom. As you and I decide daily, moment by moment, to answer Jesus’ “follow me” invitation, I leave you with this prayer:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:16-21)

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