•Saturday, May 01, 2010
Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor. Then come, follow me." But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again--it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" Matthew 19:21-24 NLT
The young man came to Jesus asking what good deed was required for him to obtain eternal life. Jesus responds (anticipating the answer) that he must keep the commandments. The young man replies sincerely: "I've obeyed all these commandments. What else must I do?"
Jesus doesn't take the time to dispute the truth of that statement. "You've always obeyed all the commandments?" Sure you have! Instead Jesus says something even harder. He presents the young man with a challenge to test the sincerity of his heart.
And the young man was not happy with Jesus' answer! He had expected something... easier. Sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor? Then follow Jesus? This was just asking too much! He went away sad. He had wanted to be assured of heaven. But the price was too high.
Now, don't be confused: you can't earn your way into heaven! Apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ, there is no salvation. This was a test. Jesus doesn't want us doing good deeds to earn brownie points.
He doesn't want just part of our lives. Jesus wants--and deserves--all that we have. Are we willing to truly follow him? Are we willing to give him everything: our devotion, obedience, time, and money?
Following Jesus involves personal sacrifice--and the affluence of our culture may not be to our advantage. Consider Mark 8:36, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?"
The young man came to Jesus asking what good deed was required for him to obtain eternal life. Jesus responds (anticipating the answer) that he must keep the commandments. The young man replies sincerely: "I've obeyed all these commandments. What else must I do?"
Jesus doesn't take the time to dispute the truth of that statement. "You've always obeyed all the commandments?" Sure you have! Instead Jesus says something even harder. He presents the young man with a challenge to test the sincerity of his heart.
And the young man was not happy with Jesus' answer! He had expected something... easier. Sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor? Then follow Jesus? This was just asking too much! He went away sad. He had wanted to be assured of heaven. But the price was too high.
Now, don't be confused: you can't earn your way into heaven! Apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ, there is no salvation. This was a test. Jesus doesn't want us doing good deeds to earn brownie points.
He doesn't want just part of our lives. Jesus wants--and deserves--all that we have. Are we willing to truly follow him? Are we willing to give him everything: our devotion, obedience, time, and money?
Following Jesus involves personal sacrifice--and the affluence of our culture may not be to our advantage. Consider Mark 8:36, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?"
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