What lack I yet?

J. Golden Kimball started his talk at a Stake Conference with these two questions:

How many of you would die for the church? 

Of course all the hands in the room went up.

Number two. How many of you pay a full tithing? 

Only a few hands went up. 

Then he turned to the Stake President and said "President, these people would rather die than pay their tithing... "


    
      This story is one that made me laugh a little bit when I read, and at first I thought nothing of it really.  As I have been thinking about it lately though, many thoughts have come to my mind that have benefited me greatly.  


     All these people had their eye on the big picture, they were willing to die for something they greatly believed in.  They were probably so willing to do it because they received a witness that it the church was true, and if they followed it, they could receive eternal life.  However only a few of them were doing all they could to follow what the church taught.  


   It brings to mind the story from the New Testament about the rich young ruler.  "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" (Matt 19:16) The young ruler desired to have eternal life, then Jesus told him some of the commandments to which he replied "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (Matt 19:20)  to which the Savior replied "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."(Matt 19:21)  The rich young man had given almost everything. When the Savior told him he must sell all his possessions, that wasn't just a story about riches.We can have eternal life if we want it, but only if there is nothing else we want more.


    We all have a goal of receiving eternal life, it is something we all are hoping to receive.  However, we hold on to things that are holding us back, we aren't willing to give up certain habits, follow certain commandments, or do certain things.  We have one foot on the path that leads to eternal life, and one foot still in the world.  In order to receive eternal life we must put both feet in the path and give everything that we have, just as the savior gave all he had for us.  Don't get me wrong, we will never be able to match the saviors sacrifice, but we can do our best and give the best sacrifice we can, and that will be acceptable to the lord. 


     I know this is true, that the only way to receive all the Father has is to give all that we have. If we almost keep the commandments, we almost receive the blessings.  We all must be willing to give up the things that are holding us back so that we can receive a fullness of Joy.