Beyond The Stuff | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Beyond The Stuff | Previous Challenge Entry
By Todd Fetter
03/09/18
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Beyond The Stuff

Focusing on his hand, Grandpa Ed said to his favorite neighborhood friend, “Noah, take a look at your index finger, the one you point with.” So Noah held up his pointer finger and waited for what he was going to say next.
“This finger,” said Grandpa Ed, “represents one thing I want you to always remember. It represents all the stuff we have and all the things we want. We usually use this finger to point to all of those things, right?”
Noah nodded.
Grandpa Ed leaned closer toward Noah, who was peering out from under his cap.
“Noah,” said Grandpa Ed, “From all the children I’ve come to know and love, you’re one of the most interesting kids I’ve ever met.”
Noah held his head up a little and smiled.
Grandpa Ed continued, “Noah, my young friend, I’ve watched you for many years. I remember you being one of the first kids in our neighborhood to have a bicycle. I have thoroughly enjoyed just how well you mastered the skill of riding a bicycle. I remember when you first got it. You weren’t too good, were you?”
Noah laughed and replied, “Nope, but I got better!”
Grandpa Ed laughed too and said, “Yes, yes you did, my boy. You got better almost overnight. As I recall, your bicycle was the newest and shiniest bicycle on the block too.”
“Oh yeah, it was the best bike money could buy, Grandpa Ed!” Noah responded.
Grandpa Ed just smiled at him.
Gently resting a hand on his shoulder, Grandpa Ed said, “Noah, I want you to also know I watched how you treated your friends concerning that new bicycle. I remember many times when you wouldn’t share and let the kids who didn’t have a bicycle ride your bike when they asked. You certainly didn’t have to, but you sure could have, don’t you think?”
Noah lowered his head.
Without looking up, he said, “I’m not sure I like what you’re saying, Grandpa Ed.”
“I’m sure you don’t Noah, but there is a powerful lesson in this if you’ll allow me to continue.”
Noah sighed and said, “Sure, Grandpa Ed, go ahead.”
“Noah,” said Grandpa Ed, “You remind me of a man who lived long ago who had everything life could offer. He had many horses and cattle, sheep, and all the animals anyone could ever want. He lived in a big house with all the stuff everyone else wanted, but couldn’t afford. He was rich beyond measure. He had it all, or so he thought. This man thought having a lot of things would make him happy. What he didn’t realize was he was missing the most important one thing. There was one thing that he didn’t have. Do you know what it was, Noah?”
Noah shrugged and said, “Nope. What was he missing, Grandpa Ed?”
“He was missing the one thing that we all need and that is putting our trust and hope in Jesus, rather than putting our trust and hope in all the stuff we think will make us happy,” Grandpa Ed explained.
Long story short, he met Jesus one day. This is what he said to him: ‘Jesus looked at the man in a way that showed how much he cared for him. He said, “There is still one thing you need to do. Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.” The man was upset when Jesus told him to give away his money. He didn’t want to do this, because he was very rich. So he went away sad.’1
“This man put his trust and hopes in all his things. What we need to know is having Jesus in our lives is the greatest thing we could ever hope to have. He’s more important than our toys, our houses, even our families, everything!”
Noah, looking a bit suspicious asked, “You’re trying to tell me to live beyond the stuff aren’t you?”
Grandpa Ed chuckled and replied, “Yes, I suppose I am, Noah. You remind me of the rich young ruler who learned that knowing God is at the heart of surrender. Please keep your heart surrendered to the Lord and always remember that the most important things aren’t things.”
Noah smiled, gave him a hug and said, “Grandpa Ed, thanks for caring enough to tell me the truth.”

1 Mark 10:21-22 (ERV) Easy-to-Read Version

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