17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what (“good thing” Matt.8:19) shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 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.” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” (What more do I lack? Matt 8:19) 21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”22 But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
In this current series we are going into the “DNA” of the human soul. Examining our deepest motives- the why’s and the why not’s. We were made by God for God, and we have lost that connection. If you are “born again” that connection has been “reconnected,” but because of sin entering into man we have to deal with spiritual “schizophrenia.” Having two opposing natures in one being. The Holy Spirit gives life to the spirit man, but our natural man still abides in our soul. At times it is truly a “tussle”.
It has taken me maturing to be able to understand the why’s and the why not’s behind my desires, motives and actions. I have come to understand that it all ties back to the fall. We were perfect (complete) prior to the original sin- broken (incomplete) afterward. Becoming indwelt by God’s Spirit via faith in Christ’s atonement brings the Holy Spirit back, but as already mentioned gives us an eternal hope. As believers our sin nature must simply be overruled or “crucified.” As Paul the apostle says in Galatians 5:24 ” … those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” and verse 5:1 “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be overcome (controlled) by a yoke of slavery.” So our “dual nature” is the struggle we all share in, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit contrary to the flesh (Gal.5:17). Those desires for care of self, to meet ones own needs is rooted in insecurity which is the result of our fellowship being broken with God.
The need to feel secure is our most basic, intrinsic need. It is part of our fabric and in one person it causes them to seek after wealth. To establish their significance or worth by their wealth, hence making them feel secure. In another personality type, we become like Martha’s. Being so busy that there is no time for God. Subconsciously we are seeking to validate our worth. I meet many Martha’s. Being busy has become “the culture” of today. We say “how are you doing?” What do we say back? “I’m good, I’m busy.” Busy makes us feel important – needed. As someone who is self employed being busy is a good thing. However is being busy my idol, or is God my Lord? It’s like the question “do you work to live, or do you live for work?” There’s a huge difference and our spouse and family can feel that as well. In our spirits we also can feel the difference when a busy schedule crowds out time with God.
In another personality even if wealth is present, it is not enough. There is a moral conscience that seeks to live right. To establish a sense of right and wrong. Religion or a type of belief often fills this need. It enables one to go to bed believing that they have done right. Believing this about ourselves is also a core need. Most of us want to believe that we are good people, and such is our personality study today – the parable of the rich young ruler. Undoubtedly the ruler was a fair and just, but he was more than that. He was respectful “a man (the ruler) ran up to him (Jesus) and knelt before Him.” To run up to someone implies a need, a respect, affection or “all the above.” To kneel before that same person implies homage, worship or reverence. This man’s heart was in the right place in the sense that his reputation or his wealth was not what he lived for. He had a deeper more pressing need. “Good teacher what ‘good thing’ shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Would to God be that more of us were as concerned about eternity as this ruler. Truly even in our time he is a rare and genuine soul.” He called Jesus “good” (agathos) meaning virtuous, upright, best of persons, outstanding. Sounds great, but Jesus called him on it. Jesus immediately deflected the praise to God, “no one is good except God alone.” Why did Jesus say this? Because the final words that Christ would share with him would make the difference between this man receiving eternal life or not, and it would hinge upon how he viewed Christ. Was Jesus just an outstanding human being, or was he truly God in the flesh?
“You know the commandments, do not steal, do not…, Teacher I have kept all these things from my youth up. What more do I lack? And Jesus looked (as if Christ was looking straight into his soul) and loved him. One thing you lack,” or translated, one thing stands in the way of you and me, of inheriting eternal life or not. And here hinged all of eternity for this young ruler. Would he see Jesus as God or just as a good man? “Go sell your possessions, give them to the poor and come follow me.” This would be the final time Jesus would invite anyone to follow him. This man’s soul was of a composite, a blend of reverence, humility and a desire for truth that was moldable into an apostle. But could he do this? Could he forsake his wealth to follow Christ? Sadly no “But at these words he was saddened, and went away grieving for he was one that owned much property.”
He stood at the door of eternity. Right there and could not step through. His security and his sense of worth was held fast in his wealth. The jump was too much, and broken hearted he returned back to a life that could not fill his void. What about us? What keeps us from wholeheartedly seeking The Lord? If Jesus spoke to us – change your lifestyle, sell your possessions, give up this practice or habit, and you stood at eternity’s door could you do it? Would you do it? Do you know Jesus well enough to know that with one step forward you would fall right into His heart; or does fear grip your heart? We will continue after Christmas. Next week I hope to write a Christmas poem – we’ll see.
Father God,
Thank you for this study and how it was because of your love for him that you asked the him to sell his possessions knowing that they were obstacles that prevented a relationship with you. Even if a man owned the whole world you would ask him to sell it to gain eternity. Eternity cannot be compared, equaled, or compensated for with any lifestyle, ambition, be it good, or wealth found in this world. Our days are numbered Father, let us be wise stewards of them. Thank you and Amen
Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur