Living Large, Giving Large: The Freedom Found in Surrender

Living Large, Giving Large: The Freedom Found in Surrender

There's a haunting question that echoes through the centuries, asked by a young man who seemingly had everything: "What do I still lack?" He had wealth, status, and a spotless moral record. Yet something gnawed at his soul—a persistent emptiness that all his possessions couldn't fill.
This ancient story from Matthew 18 speaks directly to our modern struggle with wealth, possessions, and what it truly means to live a fulfilled life. The book of James addresses this tension head-on, speaking to both the wealthy and the poor with equal measures of warning and hope.

The Deception of Wealth

Leonardo da Vinci once observed that "the greatest deception men and women suffer are from their own opinions." When it comes to wealth, we're masters of self-deception. We tell ourselves that just a little more will bring satisfaction. We convince ourselves that financial security equals peace. We believe the impasta—the false promise that riches can fill the God-shaped void in our hearts.
James doesn't mince words when addressing the wealthy: "Your wealth has rotted and the moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and your silver are corroded." The issue isn't having nice things—it's when nice things have you. When your possessions possess you. When your thoughts obsess over accumulation rather than generosity. When your trust shifts from God to your bank account.
The warning is clear: wealth without generosity is hoarding, and God opposes this. Not because He's against prosperity, but because He knows the spiritual danger it poses to our souls.

The Principle of Freedom

John Wesley famously outlined a three-part philosophy: earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can. But there's depth to this simplicity:

• Earn all you can without harming your body, soul, or neighbor
• Save all you can by avoiding unnecessary luxuries so you have more to give
• Give all you can by using your wealth for the good of others and the church

This isn't a formula for poverty—it's a blueprint for freedom. Freedom from the tyranny of possessions. Freedom from the anxiety of accumulation. Freedom to live large and give large.
The rich young ruler couldn't embrace this freedom. When Jesus told him to sell everything and give to the poor, he walked away sad. Not because Jesus demanded poverty from everyone—He didn't give this instruction to Zacchaeus or other wealthy followers. But this particular young man needed to hear it because his wealth had become his prison.

The Eye of the Needle

Jesus' famous statement about camels and needles has puzzled readers for generations: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
Some ancient cities had small gates called "the eye of the needle"—narrow entrances where travelers had to stoop to enter. No camel could pass through such a gate. Even a baby camel would struggle, requiring the shepherd to guide, pull, and coax the reluctant animal through.
This image captures something profound about our spiritual journey. We're all baby camels—wild, resistant, unsure we want to go where God is leading. We need our heavenly Father to drag us through the narrow way. As John 6:44 reminds us, "No one comes to the Father unless the Father draws them."
The disciples were astonished: "Who then can be saved?" Jesus' answer cuts through our self-reliance: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

The Three-Part Invitation

Salvation and transformation aren't about what we must do—they're about what we must receive. The pattern is simple but revolutionary:
Believe what the Bible says about Christ—that He died for our sins and offers us forgiveness and new life.
Receive God's Spirit to make that reality alive in us, transforming us from the inside out.
Concede or surrender daily to God's leading, not by our power or strength, but by depending on Him.
This is how we break free from the prison of possessions. Not by our willpower, but by God's grace working in us. Not by trying harder, but by surrendering more completely.

The Call to All

James doesn't just address the wealthy—he speaks to everyone. To those who feel oppressed or lacking, the message is equally challenging: work hard, be patient, remember that judgment day will set all wrongs right, and don't grumble against each other. Just as the rich will be judged on how they treat the needy, the needy will be judged on how they treat each other and the rich.
We're all caught in God's big tent of need. None of us can save ourselves. None of us can earn our way to spiritual freedom. We all need the Father to lead us through the narrow gate.

Living, Giving, and Praying Large

What does it look like to live large and give large? It means embracing the freedom to enjoy God's blessings while holding them loosely. It means being rich in good deeds, willing to share, and quick to give. It means trusting that God, not our bank account, is our true source of security.
And through it all, we pray like baby camels—acknowledging our need, our resistance, our inability to navigate the narrow way on our own. We cry out, "I need you, Lord. I'm not sure I want to go through this. But lead me. Pull me. Guide me."
This kind of prayer—honest, dependent, surrendering—is the key to loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Because money is necessary in this life, but God is absolutely more necessary than money.
The invitation stands: to put God first, to let Him free us from the tyranny of possessions, and to discover the joy of living large and giving large. Not by our strength, but by His amazing grace working in us.
What do you still lack? Perhaps the answer isn't found in acquiring more, but in surrendering all.