17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' "
20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
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The man's very first question shows the error of his thinking. "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" There is nothing that anyone can do to merit earning eternal life. We are so fallen that nothing we do can bridge the gap between us and God. We cannot earn our way into heaven. Instead of continuing to live a life of self-absorption, we must look to God rather than ourselves.
17(A)As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and (B)knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to (C)inherit eternal life?" 18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19"You know the commandments, '(D)DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"20And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept (E)all these things from my youth up." 21Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have (F)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. 23And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "(G)How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:17-23 -NASB)
As Jesus points out to the wealthy man, there are also necessary changes within us that need to happen so that we can step closer to Christ. Too many times, it's too difficult for us to leave things behind that we cling to, in order to follow Jesus, not necessarily financial wealth but also our sinful habits. As stated in verse 21, Jesus wants us to have the treasure in heaven and invites us to follow Him in our every day walk. Unfortunately, we are just stuck in our sinful paths..... Dear God, please help me to follow you wholeheartedly without shortcuts, so that I may follow you. Please help to get out of my sinful life and help me to get closer to you. More importantly, help me to know the directions that you show me every day that will guide me. amen.
Jesus states the #5-10 of the 10 commandments to the rich man in a very interesting order. Honor your father and mother actually comes before the others he stated first and we can suspect that Jesus did said it in this very order to emphasize honoring one's parents. Probably this rich man wasn't doing this very well.
Like Sue Jin said this rich man's question itself is an error. No man can do anything to get into Heaven. It is given by God and only through his grace and mercy, we are saved.
This rich man probably loved his wealth more than God, thus couldn't follow Jesus. It is very difficult to let go of the worldly things and follow God.
I too fall short many times holding on to the very things that Jesus wants me to let go. I pray that he'll help me to let go and follow him.
What is the number one thing that I consider to be most dear and precious in my life? What is the object of my affection in life to which my entire being is found yielding? Is it Jesus? Is it wanting to see His name being lifted high? (chuckles..) Often, it is not.. Yet I find within a small desire welling up to strive for such life. To love God as I see that I'm loved, and to strive to be satisfied in Him first and foremost. I don't want to be good (that is stop at that) and religious like this man. I want to love God, appreciate and practice the seemingly paradoxical truth that to die is really to gain. How hard for the rich indeed to enter the Kingdom. Let me let go of the "riches" that I'm founding clinging to today. Lord, help me see how great You are. Amen.
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