After having this story of the young man with “great possessions” a few times over the past couple years, I’ve had time to pray and listen to what others had to say about it. I am very grateful for this opportunity, because before coming to this church I was always very confused about my own worth and the worth of what I can offer.
That confusion came from not knowing where worth and value comes from. Now I know I am one of God’s ideas, and that all of God’s ideas have worth and value. I also see that my work only has value if it is work that God is directing me to do.
Because of this, I am certain that the majority of the young man’s “great possessions” had no value as far as Jesus was concerned. Since they prevented the young man from following Christ, those “great possessions” were actually anchors weighing him down. They were the counterfeits of value, and needed to be let go.
Selling and buying is exchanging value for value. Since all we have comes from God, and “whatever blesses one blesses all” (S&H, p.206:16), then when we exchange those values, “buyer” and “seller” are blessed. A smile, a kind word, a loving thought, or a good example are never simply subtracted from one column and added to another. So if we freely exchange the value of all that is good, we all will be blessed.
Mortal mind would tell us we lose on each transaction, or that we must hold tight to what we have, but a smile held in does no one any good. Therefore, whatever fails to bless all cannot be a blessing to one.
I am so grateful for Christian Science, this church, these lessons, and practitioner support, for getting me closer to God and further from those anchors I had. What a difference all of this has made in my life! Thank you!