Finding Fulfillment in things other than Jesus…
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:17-27 ESV)
There once was a man that was searching for God. He personally intersected his life with Jesus. He had heard the rumors about Jesus. He had obviously heard that Jesus was a good teacher sent from God. Being a good Jewish man he knew that he needed to make sure he was still in good standing with God.
Jesus’ responses are intriguing. Knowing the man’s Jewish heritage, Jesus asks simple questions concerning the law. Keep in mind that Jesus is God and knows and can discern the hearts of men before the young man even contemplates his response. Once the man answers these simple things, declaring his devotion to his religious system, Jesus then poses a more challenging question that went deeper into the man’s heart. What about your wealth and possessions, Jesus asked him? The man came looking to assure his entry into eternity and left dejected.
What is it that God is teaching us today about this story? We know the money is not inherently evil but the love of it is (1 Tim. 6:10). We know that Jesus did not want to turn anyone away from gaining entry into eternity with Him (2 Peter 3:9). We know that other not yet discipled men were not told to sell possessions or do something special but were told to just follow Him, and “Come and See” (John 1:35-42). Looking back is always easier to see the principles or lessons learned rather than feeling the sting of the conviction in the midst of life.
Jesus knew a few things about this man that we see modeled in this story. One that he was a Jew. Jews sought righteousness in the sight of God via the Law of Moses. If this mans primary question was centered on eternity then Jesus knew that the young man was banking on (pun intended) his access being granted based on the merit of his good works, deeds or self imposed righteousness. Once Jesus set the standard for this man in adhering to the law, then He proceeded to swing for the fences, having set the man right where He wanted him. Jesus got to the heart of the matter for this young man. It wasn’t his ability to follow rules that gained him access into heaven but rather the underlying principle in all the laws that the Jews had set and that God had previously ordained.
The fact of the matter is the the laws were put in place to show that humanity cannot live up to them. They were unrealistic expectations. Having great wealth or possessions was not a sin, but loving them more than God was and still is. If these great possessions kept this man from the supreme commandment, then he was missing the point, “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”’ (Matt. 22:37 ESV).
What about you? Is there something in particular that stops you from being satisfied with Christ alone? Is there baggage that you have been carrying in life that you believe is making you right in the sight of God? Jesus told the rich young ruler then and is telling us today, that if there is something that you do or have that is more valuable to you than He is, then it’s time to let it go. When the things God generously and graciously bestows upon us in the first place, take first place or priority in our lives, then they are idols. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” (James 1:17 ESV). I want to encourage you this week to look to Jesus first in your life. Find in Him all you need for daily living. This will be the most fulfilling, satisfied place you will have ever been in life. Of course you could follow the example of the rich young ruler, but we all have seen how that turned out.
