Keith Green’s story stopped me in my tracks. I was listening to the biography of a musical genius whose life was cut short in a plane crash. He left a legacy, a legacy of extreme generosity. In a culture of fame and fortune, Keith didn’t fit in. He didn’t consider Jesus an accessory to his life, but Lord of his life.
KEITH’S UNUSUAL BUSINESS PRACTICE
Keith Green was signed to Sparrow Records in 1976. In 1979, after negotiating a release from his contract with Sparrow, Green initiated a new policy of refusing to charge money for concerts or albums. Keith and his wife mortgaged their home to privately finance Green’s next album, which was offered through mail order and at concerts for whatever price the purchaser wanted to pay. By May 1982, Green had shipped out more than 200,000 units of his album, often for a few dollars each – and 61,000 totally for free.
Some in the gospel industry labeled Green a “kook” for his unorthodox methods, but Green believed he needed to listen to God and practice what he preached. He felt he could not charge $8.98 for a record when the Gospel and salvation were free. When his music was carried by Christian bookstores, a second cassette was included free of charge for every cassette purchased to give away to a friend to help spread the Gospel. A vast fortune was in Keith’s reach. What he chose instead was to give it away.
STORY OF THE RICH YOUNG RULER
In Matthew 19:16-22 is the account of the rich young ruler. He came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “You must not murder, must not commit adultery and must not steal, and must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
GOD IS NOT AN ACCESSORY
What stood between the young man and Jesus was the question of what took priority in the man’s life. Who sat on the throne? It was possessions. Jesus shares the throne with no one. No person, possession, plan, goal, or dream takes precedence over Christ. Jesus is either Lord of someone’s life or an accessory. God is not an accessory. How does God fit into your life?
Click to watch/listen to an excellent biography of Keith Green.