August 24

The Joy Set before Him

If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. — Matt 18:8 BSB

Life is full of dangers, so much so that even the best things can become stumbling blocks. Our strengths can become forces that drive us to ruin. Beauty, for instance, is a reflection of God’s original creation, but it has led many to spiritual downfall. The ability to make money is a powerful gift, but it has led many to lose their souls. It’s better to throw away this gift and live in poverty than to gain wealth and lose eternal life. These are examples of what Jesus meant when He said we should cut off a hand or foot that causes us to stumble.

Our appetites, desires, and affections are part of what makes us human, but when uncontrolled, they can lead to our destruction. There’s a story of a ship that had been out to sea for a long time. An accident delayed the voyage, and the coal supply ran out. To keep the ship moving, they had to burn all their cargo, stores, and furniture. The vessel eventually made it to port, but stripped of everything of value. Still, it was better to burn the cargo and reach safety than to perish at sea.

Some people can only get to heaven by sacrificing all earthly pleasures and crucifying every desire, but who would say that the prize isn’t worth the sacrifice? It’s better to lose a hand than to let it steal or harm someone. It’s better to cut off a foot than to let it carry you into sin. It’s better to lose an eye than to let it lead you into lust. A man on a sinking ship is better off throwing his bags of gold into the sea and saving his life than clinging to the gold and sinking into the waves.