Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“All these 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.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I once heard a story told about gold legend Tiger Woods. I have no idea whether the story is factually true – but it does make a point. As the story goes, Mr. Woods was just 20 years old and already a superstar in his sport. One night he went with some older friends to some kind of exclusive night club where guests had to be at least 21 years old to enter. When he got to the door – the doorman asked for his identification. Woods said something like, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m ‘The Tiger’” To which the doorman simply replied, “I don’t care if you’re the ‘Lion King’ – you’re not getting into this club unless you’re 21!”
The gist of Jesus interaction with the “rich young man” – and the Tiger Woods story – is that our entrance into heaven will not be based on who we are – or what we think we have done to merit entrance – but rather it will be based on who we know!
The young man who comes to Jesus in this story is fairly impressed with his own credentials. He is wealthy and successful. He has been religious all his life. While he has probably exaggerated his own righteousness just a bit – there is no doubt he was a fine, upstanding and outwardly religious young man! But Jesus knows something about this fellow. Jesus knows he is trying to prove his own worthiness of eternal life. Notice how the young man starts; “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” This is a guy who believes in himself. He believes he can accomplish anything, jump through any hoop, beat out his closest competitors in business, and prove himself worthy to God because he has always been able to achieve success. Jesus knows this young man’s heart – and he knows his heart is filled with two things – himself and his wealth. Jesus also knows neither of these can save his soul.
So Jesus offers him salvation; he tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, then to come and follow him. Sometimes we focus on the selling of possessions and miss the call to follow. I don’t think Jesus is saying that selling his possessions and giving to the poor will save this man. I think Jesus is saying that only when the young man breaks free from the god of wealth that enslaves his heart will he be free to follow him – and it is following Jesus that will lead him to eternal life.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I once heard a story told about gold legend Tiger Woods. I have no idea whether the story is factually true – but it does make a point. As the story goes, Mr. Woods was just 20 years old and already a superstar in his sport. One night he went with some older friends to some kind of exclusive night club where guests had to be at least 21 years old to enter. When he got to the door – the doorman asked for his identification. Woods said something like, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m ‘The Tiger’” To which the doorman simply replied, “I don’t care if you’re the ‘Lion King’ – you’re not getting into this club unless you’re 21!”
The gist of Jesus interaction with the “rich young man” – and the Tiger Woods story – is that our entrance into heaven will not be based on who we are – or what we think we have done to merit entrance – but rather it will be based on who we know!
The young man who comes to Jesus in this story is fairly impressed with his own credentials. He is wealthy and successful. He has been religious all his life. While he has probably exaggerated his own righteousness just a bit – there is no doubt he was a fine, upstanding and outwardly religious young man! But Jesus knows something about this fellow. Jesus knows he is trying to prove his own worthiness of eternal life. Notice how the young man starts; “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” This is a guy who believes in himself. He believes he can accomplish anything, jump through any hoop, beat out his closest competitors in business, and prove himself worthy to God because he has always been able to achieve success. Jesus knows this young man’s heart – and he knows his heart is filled with two things – himself and his wealth. Jesus also knows neither of these can save his soul.
So Jesus offers him salvation; he tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, then to come and follow him. Sometimes we focus on the selling of possessions and miss the call to follow. I don’t think Jesus is saying that selling his possessions and giving to the poor will save this man. I think Jesus is saying that only when the young man breaks free from the god of wealth that enslaves his heart will he be free to follow him – and it is following Jesus that will lead him to eternal life.
To me, this is one of the saddest stories in the entire New Testament. It is sad because, when given the choice between following Jesus to spiritual freedom and salvation and clinging to his wealth and pride – he chooses the latter. He just couldn’t bring himself to let go of that which he used to define himself – that which he used to impress others and God.
Someday soon, the Bible says, we will all stand before God. What will we offer him? Some will offer him a successful career; great achievement; a boatload of money; multiple academic degrees; tireless community service; a whole portfolio of religious activities – and all of that will seem paltry and pointless in the face of the holiness of God. The only thing any of us will have to offer – and the only thing that will matter on that day – is Jesus.
Jesus is truth. Jesus is freedom. Jesus is salvation. Jesus is life.
“Amen, come Lord Jesus.” – Revelation 22:20
Brian Coffey
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