WHAT DO YOU LACK?

Reference text: Matthew 19:16-22
Jesus encounters a rather determined young man in today’s Gospel, one who was interested in things that matter hence his question ‘good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ After Jesus responds with a list of the commandments, the young man responds ‘these I have kept since my youth’. Yet, he knew something was still missing thus his final question which is our focus today: “what do I still lack?(Matthew 19:20b)

Various renditions of this question are ‘what’s left? or what else must I do? It is interesting that he asked this question to another, and I wondered how the same question would sound if we asked it to ourselves? Not only concerning eternal life, but also our life here on earth. Regarding family, career, spiritual growth, social relations etc..what else do we lack?’

It’s easy to find fault in others, highlighting all they don’t have, but we often fail to look inwardly at ourselves too. Our reason for doing so is because we think identifying the things ‘we don’t have’ will amplify our weaknesses but even scripture is clear on this: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).

Strong men are not those who pretend they lack nothing, but those who have looked within to identify those things they lack, and are striving to fill those gaps.

What do you lack, and what are you [rightly] doing about it?

#sly