The Rich Young Man Anchored By His Possessions

Have you inventoried your “great possessions”? We all have them and until we identify them and understand their roots they will act as invisible anchors, slowing our spiritual progress. Does this mean we have to strip away and discard all we own (physically and mentally) to grow spiritually? No, but we must discard our attachments. There is nothing spiritually hindering in possessions, unless we define ourselves by them. We are not the house we live in or derive any real status (positive or negative) from its physical location. We are not the car we drive, wristwatch we wear or any other material possession for these things are all passing, mere ornaments of living, gifts to enjoy but of little spiritual value, destructive if they lull us into a false sense of  perceived entitlement.

As hindering as these may be they pale in significance when weighed against our mental possessions which plant the deepest and heaviest anchors. Once we close our mind to any new thinking or concept, in any area of life, we throw out another anchor, for nothing slows, even stops our spiritual growth quicker than a closed mind. To hold that any group or people are either favored by God or despised, plants another anchor. To place anyone or anything on a pedestal, a sacred cow, another anchor. To refuse to recognize the inherent dignity of anyone, regardless of their station or if we like or approve of them personally, another anchor, there are many more. We are spiritual beings, the power that is within us, moves us is beyond measure; it is no less than the creative life force that animates the mayfly and powers the stars. As great as this power is, we can set enough anchors to slow our growth to the point of it being imperceptible. We must begin cutting away the anchors slowing our progress, for if we don’t, our fate will be the same as the Rich Young Man from the Bible, who failed to demonstrate and …went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:22)

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

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