The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 19:20-22,
"'All these (the commandments) I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."
A young man approached Jesus and asked him what "good thing" he needed to do to receive eternal life. His approach betrays his misunderstanding, prevalent with most Jews (as well as prevalent in many churches today), that he could earn his way into God's family. He just wanted to know what good deed it was that would procure a ticket for him into eternal life.
After telling the young man to keep the law, which would have demonstrated to him he was not fit for God's kingdom and needed to throw himself at the feet of God's mercy, Jesus found the man harbored the notion that he was good enough based on the law, that he had kept all the law.
Since Jesus' approach with him, based on the law, did not provide the traction needed, Jesus (not to be dissuaded) laid on him something he knew this young man would have a hopeless struggle with: give his wealth away to the poor. We are told the young man went away sad.
The trappings of this life bring spiritual demise and eternal death to so many! Jesus told Nicodemus that many would reject God's kingdom because they choose to cling to their sin. In this case it was wealth in this life that kept this young man from entering into eternal life.
I am reminded that this life is short (it sure seems to be at my age!), it is temporary, and it is not God's agenda for us to find our ultimate happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life by the trappings of this life. It is not the toys money can buy, it is not riches, it is not fame, it is not the trophy spouse, the career, the house we have, the degree behind our name that God intends to bring to us ultimate happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life. Our happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life is to be found in the next life, within the contest of God's family.
Everything else is just a sad, mistaken and poor choice.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"'All these (the commandments) I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."
A young man approached Jesus and asked him what "good thing" he needed to do to receive eternal life. His approach betrays his misunderstanding, prevalent with most Jews (as well as prevalent in many churches today), that he could earn his way into God's family. He just wanted to know what good deed it was that would procure a ticket for him into eternal life.
After telling the young man to keep the law, which would have demonstrated to him he was not fit for God's kingdom and needed to throw himself at the feet of God's mercy, Jesus found the man harbored the notion that he was good enough based on the law, that he had kept all the law.
Since Jesus' approach with him, based on the law, did not provide the traction needed, Jesus (not to be dissuaded) laid on him something he knew this young man would have a hopeless struggle with: give his wealth away to the poor. We are told the young man went away sad.
The trappings of this life bring spiritual demise and eternal death to so many! Jesus told Nicodemus that many would reject God's kingdom because they choose to cling to their sin. In this case it was wealth in this life that kept this young man from entering into eternal life.
I am reminded that this life is short (it sure seems to be at my age!), it is temporary, and it is not God's agenda for us to find our ultimate happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life by the trappings of this life. It is not the toys money can buy, it is not riches, it is not fame, it is not the trophy spouse, the career, the house we have, the degree behind our name that God intends to bring to us ultimate happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life. Our happiness, purpose, fulfillment and meaning in life is to be found in the next life, within the contest of God's family.
Everything else is just a sad, mistaken and poor choice.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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