If you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas, consider Richard Stearns’ book, “The Hole in Our Gospel”. Stearns was a highly successful corporate CEO before becoming the President of World Vision U.S.

Part of what makes the book so wonderful is Stearns’ gut-wrenching honesty. He didn’t want to leave the lifestyle he had spent years building, and he doesn’t sugar-coat the unflattering parts of his story. Giving up what he had in order to follow God’s call was something he ran from, desperately, for months. In fact, he compares himself to the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-23:

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

“Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus knew wealth would prevent the rich young ruler from following him, but the story isn’t really about money. When he listed the commandments, Jesus left out the ones that were most difficult for the young man to keep. Actually, they’re humanly impossible to keep, because they all conflict with our self-centered, sinful nature. Jesus left out every commandments that tells us to put God first.

In Stearns’ case, putting God first meant surrendering wealth and financial security. As I read his story, I wondered, “what would Jesus ask me to surrender if I were in the rich young ruler’s position?” What idols are preventing me from really following him?

Perhaps you’re thinking, “we’re saved by grace alone, and you’ve already been made perfect through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, so if you’ve prayed the sinner’s prayer, you are following him.” Over the years I’ve come to believe that being a follower of Christ is about more than personal salvation, or even personal sanctification. It’s about transformation and growth that progressively opens our hearts to the things that matter to God. It’s a life-long process of surrendering what we want so there’s more room for what God wants. By definition, it involves turning away from self.

Actually, following Jesus sounds pretty scary. I’m still not sure what “take up your cross and follow me” means, but I doubt my present lifestyle fits the bill.

I smile as I look at the title of this post. Do you know the hymn? It’s one of my favourites. I sing it with complete sincerity, as I’m sure you do. But the truth is, unless our actions are in harmony with the words, it’s not much more than a lullaby, giving us a false sense that we are making a difference for Christ.

All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

(Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896 – © Public Domain)