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Introduction
Jesus our Lord had many encounters during his 3 years of
public ministry on earth. There was an important encounter
that Christ our Lord had with someone that we must note this
morning. What a privilege to meet Jesus personally for this
person. He fell on his knees desperately before Him and
beseeched Him with a life changing question (Mk 10:17). He
came with great urgency and zeal in his action which is
commendable. We shall consider his exchange with our Saviour
and the spiritual lessons to be learnt.
CV of a Rich Young Ruler
This is not an ordinary man in the street. He is called a
ruler which probably refers to one who has authority or
influence, in a legal or religious manner. It can be said of
other Jewish leaders, who are in charge of a synagogue or
leaders of the Sanhedrin.
He is referred to as a young man (Matt 19:22) He has energy
and youthfulness and maybe good health and strength too
which are desirable traits. Luke 18:23 tells us he was a man
of great possessions or an abundance of earthly possessions.
Here is a strong, wealthy and healthy young man, with
authority and probably a well regarded person in his social
network. But he is apparently not happy for he has a
question that was disturbing him for some time and he must
get an answer to this burning question in his heart.
The important matter of Eternal Life
There is one most significant question that all of us at
some stage will need to ask also. It is “How can I get or
inherit Eternal Life?” (Mk 10:17).
When someone asked a question, it can be either sincere or
with ulterior motives. Our Lord Jesus Christ had handled
many public questions that were designed to trick him into
trouble like whether one should pay taxes to Caesar or on
the keeping of the Sabbath by the Pharisees. But this man's
question was sincere from his heart . It was a sincere
question to which he needed to know the answer, “How can one
inherit Eternal Life?”
The question tells us that he must have felt something
missing in his spiritual life or else he would not have
asked the question. He believes that there is such a thing
as eternal life beyond the grave and that it is something
that one earns or merits by what he does. What will be your
answer to that question? Do you think the same way?
From his question we can see or surmise that he has a
defective understanding of the meaning of eternal life, that
one can get it through a person's ability through good
works. Paul in Romans 3:10-12 says clearly, “As it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none
that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one”
and the prophet Isaiah said also “all our
righteousness are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). This
man has a different understanding from both Paul and
Isaiah.
Salvation is described in different ways in the Bible. It is
likened to treasure in heaven (Lk 18:22), or the entering
into the Kingdom of God (Lk 18:24, 29), or simply being
saved (Lk18:26).
Can the Good man stand up?
He addresses Jesus as "good teacher," a somewhat awkward way
to address our Lord Jesus. Jesus answered him: "Why do you
call me good?” Jesus answered, saying that there is no one
who is good except God alone.
You may find it strange that Jesus rejected his statement
and gave such a discouraging reply (not good for public
relations by worldly standards). But this young man needed
a clear and sound response and the Lord gave it to him.
Jesus will tell him unless he grasps that our relative
standards of goodness are different from God's absolute
goodness and God's standards of righteousness, he will not
be able to understand the true meaning of salvation.
Jesus is trying to cause the young man to think carefully
and reflect on correctness of his life. Jesus is trying to
teach him an important moral and spiritual lesson on
anthropology called the depravity of man that there is none
good but God and that he needs to change his life’s
direction and to return to God.
Jesus' Encounter with Nicodemus
There is an incident that we must consider as well together.
Consider a religious leader called Nicodemus, who came to
Jesus at night stealthily and he acknowledged Christ as a
great teacher from God, and the miraculous signs that He had
done. Our Lord Jesus in reply said “that no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:1-3). Jesus'
response may not be the expected but a needful and
appropriate one.
Our Lord hit the nail on the head and dealt with important
issue of ignorance or at least a serious misunderstanding of
the truth of salvation. In both cases these rulers are
seeking for spiritual help and guidance. But they need to
give up their unsound presumptions about God and salvation
before they are able to understand any biblical truth.
God’s Perfect Laws
Jesus exposed this man's false sense of self righteousness
and a ‘holier than thou’ attitude. Jesus asked him if he
knew the commandments: we should not commit adultery,
murder, steal, or give false testimony, and we are to honour
our father and mother. His confident reply was that he had
kept since he was a youth but “is that true?” (Lk
18:20-21).
The young man's response betrayed his self confidence and
presumptuous spirit. He thought that he knew and that he
kept everything and that he was good before God (Lk 18:21).
Beware of this creeping in our hearts when we criticize or
accuse others for the heavenly indictment is that we are
poor, wretched, blind and miserable, and we do not even know
ourselves (Rev 3:17). The Pharisees added 613 laws to God’s
holy laws and they feel good about it. Jesus' view of
keeping these commandments goes beyond the legalistic
interpretations of His time. Jesus’ standard exposed their
religious fallacy and considers murder to its root in
hatred, and adultery is committed already when we look at
someone with lust. Can anyone make the grade here?
Give up Everything and Give to the Poor
This self righteous young man thought he has kept all the
commandments of God, but there is still a vacuum in his
heart that only God can fill. Our Jesus can meet our
spiritual need and none else; He was told that he lacked one
thing. And that he needed to sell everything and give to the
poor, and then he will have treasure in heaven (Lk 18:22).
If the man dares to obey God, he will be heaping eternal
treasure in heaven. Are we also laying our affections on
things on the earth or in the everlasting home where we
belong for eternity one day? We need to also examine
ourselves, see the Lord humbly, seek Him first and His
kingdom, and His righteousness (Mt 6:33).
In this regard consider the clear teaching of James on the
implications of true religion in James1:27 which says
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
This is the true meaning of one who is truly saved for his
life is also changed and his purposes and his actions as
well.
The Addiction to Mammon
The craze for wealth and worldly financial gains has
destroyed many lives and families. It is an obsession or
addiction that has caused many to have fallen away from the
faith as well (1 Tim 6:6-10). Recently in The Straits Times
on 18 August 2009, there was an article on young gamblers
who are hooked at an early age and 4 in 10 graduates
interviewed are given to gambling. Many are wiling to give
up their conviction and beliefs and compromise our standards
for the extra dollar and it does not make good moral or
spiritual sense. Luke 12:15 warns, “And he said unto
them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's
life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he
possesseth” and we are to beware that it does not
happen to anyone of us as well.
Jesus is the Master Teacher and He has taught us about the
importance of faithfulness to God as good stewards
accountable to Him one day (2 Cor 5:10). Do we put God or
our money first? Is it God or Gold, word or the world? We
have to be very decisive for it has everlasting
consequences.
Money, however, is not the only thing that Jesus asks the
young man to give up but his life to God and his entire
being: his possessions, status, influence, power and all
that he has to be totally surrendered to God and then he can
follow Christ and take up the Cross. Are you willing today?
Wealth is deeply desired by many for they thought that the
wealthy will always have their way but this is sadly false.
The Words of Everlasting Life may hurt some
The Lord Jesus' Words did not go on well with him. Sometime
people came to church to hear a soothing message to pander
to their flesh but when they did not get what they want,
they react negatively and they may even leave God and the
church. Are we like this? Do we sincerely seek to follow God
or self induced motives and hidden agendas which we need to
repent of? Let the Word of God speak to us today as we seek
Him in fear and trembling and in humility and truth.
Jesus makes it clear in other parts of the Bible when He
said in Luke 14:26-27, “If any man come to me, and hate
not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and
come after me, cannot be my disciple.” There is a
price to follow Christ and we must be willing to bear or pay
it. In Mk 9:36, He said, “If any man come to me, and hate
not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and
come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Will you
still follow Jesus today?
The meaning of Following Christ
All of us are invited today to follow Christ. Isaiah 55:1-2
says, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,
and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come,
buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore
do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and
your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken
diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in fatness” and Matthew
11:28-30 says,
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and
learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls.”
Let us all come and follow Christ now confessing our sins
and forsaking our self righteousness and take up the Cross
daily and follow Him. This is the test of a true follower of
Christ today and not just superficial easy believism or “the
cheap gospel” which is prevalent in our churches.
He refused and left in dejection
This account had a sad ending because he could not give up
the world and refused the call of God for the cost of
discipleship was too much for the rich young ruler (Lk
18:23). He went away sorrowful. He would not give up his
prized possessions and follow Jesus, for he loved his wealth
and possessions. It was said of Demas (2 Tim 4:10) that he
had forsaken Paul and hence God too because he loved the
present world. We are soberly reminded that we cannot love
both God and mammon and in the 10 Commandments as it is
stated that “You shall have no other gods before me”
(Deut 5:1-17). Will you also walk away today from the Lord?
Conclusion
Today the same charge and reply is still relevant for all of
us. Is there any idol in your life that you are not willing
to give up? Any secret love affair with the world or
possessions or pleasures that you are reluctant to give up
to follow Jesus? You cannot have your cake and eat it. He
is either the Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. Take up
your Cross today and follow Him. Will you do it now before
it is too late? Something to seriously think and pray
carefully about it before our time is up and eternity
begins. |
