Rich Young Ruler

Last night I was talking with Emma. She was asking me various deep questions, and we were having a nice discussion. Then she asked me, "Do you ever ask God something, then wait an hour in silence for the response?" "An hour?? Nope." She challenged me to try it.

The next day (today) was Sunday. I was getting ready for church like normal. Then I had some extra time. I went outside, since it was such a beautiful day, and prayed, and then just sat in silence. The birds were chirping, the dogs were barking, a local church bell was ringing. It was so noisy! hahaha.

My prayer was something like, "God, I know some people want me to stay here in Cluj, but I still have my college loans to pay off and that's hundreds of dollars every month. I don't know how I'm going to raise that much support unless I sell all my things back home. That is the main huge thing standing in my way from serving You here in Cluj. I know that I can serve You wherever I am, but I want to be sent by You to a specific target, for a specific purpose. If here is where You want to send me, give me a peace that surpasses understanding. (Phil 4:7)"

I waited, but I didn't really hear anything, so when the taxi came, we got into it and went to church. As I walked into church, I had the mindset that I'm still going to try and listen to God to get a response from the question, "What should I do after DTS?"

The two clear options are:

1) Go home. Get a job. Go back to normal life. Easy. Safe. Boring.

2) Stay here in Cluj. Join the staff. Raise all my support from donations of friends and family. Hard. Scary. Exciting.

Then church started.

One of the worship songs we sang:

God is able to do just what He said He would do.

He's gonna fulfill every promise to you.

Don't give up on God, cause He won't give up on you.

He is able.

(I don't have speakers on this computer, but I think this is the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnZGwXfLDN0)

Then it was time for people to come up and give testimonies about how God is moving in their life. Three people came up, and every testimony was about how God had provided money for them in their time of need.

Then the sermon started, and we talked about Caleb. He was one of the 12 spies that was sent in to check out the land. They all agreed that the land was a good land, but ten of the spies didn't think they could defeat the giants in the land. Caleb and Joshua knew God was bigger. (Full story: Numbers 13-14) Okay God, I get it. If you are calling me to Romania like you were calling the Israelites into the promised land, you are stong enough to make it happen.

Then we switched over to the New Testament in Matthew 19, the story of the rich young ruler beginning in verse 16.

Now behond, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This passage really hit home. I am the rich young ruler. The only way that I can see that I can continue to follow Jesus here in Cluj is if I sell all my things. That makes me sorrowful, because I also have great possessions: a nice car, a nice tv, etc. I don't want to sell all those things.

Then the pastor went over to Mark 14:36. "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."

Okay, it's not as important what I want. It's more important what You want, God, but how are You going to provide for me?

Then the pastor went over to Philippians 4:19. "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Okay, so You can supply all my needs, but my friends and family are going to think I'm crazy for doing this, since it's so risky, and goes against all conventional wisdom.

Then the pastor went over to 1 Corinthians 3, where I noticed verses 18 & 19. "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God."

Okay, so I won't put the wisdom of this world (that says I should play it safe) above the wisdom of God (that says I should follow Him).

So, whereas before I didn't know what I was going to do after DTS, now I'm leaning towards staying here for another two years.