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"Last year, I was reminded of the amusing lengths to which college students will go to make a buck. \r\n\r\nA third-year law student, my daughter, Hannah, hoped to win a little money by appearing on the show *Let\u2019s Make a Deal*. In order to increase her chances of being chosen as a contestant in the audience, she dressed up as a law book\u2014a torts book, to be precise. She felt a bit foolish, but it worked, and she was chosen to play. \r\n\r\nIn the show, contestants play to win a wide range of prizes, some good and some bad. The host might first offer someone one thousand dollars in cash, no strings attached. The contestant can decide to quit right then and go home one thousand dollars richer. \r\n\r\nBut then the fun begins. The host asks the contestant if she wants to trade what she has already won for the unknown prize that lies behind the curtain. Of course, the mystery prize could be a brand-new Corvette; a two-week, all-expenses-paid vacation to Hawaii; or a jar of dill pickles. It\u2019s the contestant\u2019s choice: trade what she has already won for the promise of something better, or play it safe and keep what\u2019s in her hands. \r\n\r\nHannah played well, and she ended up winning a motorbike, a laptop computer and a couple nice backpacks. To her parents\u2019 great relief, she sold the motorbike to get cash to pay her bills.\r\n\r\n*Let\u2019s Make a Deal* is a great metaphor for the choices offered us by God.\r\n\r\nIn Mark 10, Jesus makes an offer to a man described as a rich, young ruler. This is my paraphrase of Jesus\u2019 offer to him in Mark 10:21: \u201CGo, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me. I\u2019m offering you the greatest adventure of your life. I am inviting you to partner with Me in My great Kingdom mission. All you have to do is lay down what you\u2019ve already won, and I will replace it with treasures beyond your imagination.\u201D \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s that last sentence that\u2019s the hard part: \u201CLay down what you\u2019ve already won.\u201D \u201CCan\u2019t I keep it all?\u201D we might ask. But Jesus makes it clear it is an exchange. He asks us to let go of the things we clutch so He can fill our hands with that which is more valuable. \r\n\r\nIn my own life, I had racked up quite a few prizes. I had achieved the CEO position at a prestigious American company, and with it, a big salary, and with that, a dream house. It had taken me 25 years to win financial security, prestige and comfort. I had written my own story, and I liked the way it was turning out. \r\n\r\nI wanted Jesus to endorse my plan for my life. But Jesus had something greater in mind. First, I had to be willing to let go of the things I had already won.\r\n\r\nI discovered how very hard it is to trust and let go and how easy it is to cling to a career, a relationship, a lifestyle, a family business or an identity. Yet Jesus tells us that if we are to find our lives, we must first lose our lives. He asks us to lay down our most precious possessions at His feet for Him to use for His own purposes. He asks that the certificate of ownership be signed over to Him. \r\n\r\nIn my case, Jesus asked me to give up that career, sell that dream house and move my family 2,500 miles away to serve as president of World Vision U.S., helping the poorest people on earth in His name. \r\n\r\nFifteen years later, I can say it has been both the greatest privilege and adventure of my life. It is frightening now for me to think that, like the rich, young ruler, I almost walked away\u2014for when he heard what it would cost him, \u201CHe went away sad, because he had great wealth\u201D (Mark 10:22).\r\n\r\nJesus offers an incredible adventure to those who trade their lives and \u201Cmake the deal\u201D with Him. He may stretch us and take us out of our comfort zones, but unlike the game show, He\u2019ll never trick us into a lesser treasure. \r\n\r\nWhat are the most precious things in your life? Whatever they are, there\u2019s an even greater adventure waiting just behind the curtain. Jesus is offering you an amazing deal\u2014one you don\u2019t want to refuse. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/worldview/making-deal-god>