The Rich Young Man wanted to know what good thing he could do to have eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments, listed six of the ten and ended with instruction to love one’s neighbor as oneself.
The young man responded he had kept them all from his youth up, yet he still felt he lacked something.
We cannot serve God and mammon
Then Jesus gave him the test to see where God really was in this rich young man’s priorities. If he wanted to enter into life, he should sell all that he had and give to the poor and come and follow Jesus. In making this stringent demand, Jesus forced the young man to confront his particular problem – though he observed the commandments, his heart was fixed on his real treasure, his possessions, not God’s requirements. We know that we cannot serve God and mammon.
Here was why he was not experiencing fullness of life and felt there was something else he needed to do – his focus was on mammon and not God. His possessions were his treasure and his heart loved them so much, he could not part with them even for eternal life. So he went away sorrowful, wanting to serve God his way, even though in so doing, he still sensed an emptiness in his soul and the fullness of life eluded him.
The problem with riches
When Jesus followed with a comment on how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom, his disciples responded in astonishment, echoing the man’s dilemma: “Who then can be saved?”
We are familiar with this problem. Many in our day are in a similar situation; possessions demand so much energy and time there is very little given to God. Yet, despite the time and effort it takes to keep up this lifestyle, those so engaged are aware something is still lacking, and so continue in an endless pursuit of accumulating more and more.
As this treasure hunt drives one faster and faster, sometimes quite unawares a person loses sight of his spiritual goals and the things of God get pushed aside as he pursues material idols. They can become our god. It then becomes very difficult to cast off these earthly possessions and focus on the things of God even though, like the young man, we would really like to inherit eternal life. Indeed the material blessings God has given us become a curse, a hindrance in our worship to Him.
Are we prepared to make a great sacrifice for eternal life? The man was sorrowful because he had great possessions. He had to get rid of that which would have kept him out of the kingdom. We, too, are aware of that which hinders us in our striving after the things of God. The young man’s possessions would keep him from entering because it was his idol, his focus instead of God.
With God all things are possible
Jesus’ disciples asked in astonishment, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus’ demand seemed so impossible. Rather than cut back on his demand, Jesus informed them that with God all things are possible. Yes, we can enjoy fullness of life now, but only if we put God first.
Peter pointed out that the disciples had forsaken all and followed Jesus and asked what they would receive. To this Jesus responded that they which followed him, in the regeneration would sit with him upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who had “forsaken” houses or brethren, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for his name’s sake, would receive an hundredfold and inherit everlasting life.
Blessings now and later
We should observe that Jesus is promising exactly what the rich young man wanted in the first place, and what we also want – a hundredfold in this life and the inheritance of eternal life. “Forsaken” here means putting God and Jesus first in our lives and all other things second. He is telling his disciples that the secret was putting God before all else, because life itself and eternal life, is a gift from God. As all things are of Him, He is the only one who can give the fullness of life which satisfies our inner yearning.
Jesus is truly saying that we can have both satisfaction now and eternal life by forsaking all and following him. By doing so we will live the same self sacrificial life that he exemplified in his command, “love thy neighbor as thyself”
We may ask, “How does this give us riches now?” The answer is it is only in this selfless life of sharing that we can experience a fullness of life. We can only find this satisfaction by following our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. In trying to imitate their image and likeness, we will be able to reach out to each other with the same love they extend to us. Only then will we be able to master our weakness in material things, using them to the glory and honor of God.
When we hug our riches to ourselves for our own gratification, we can never be satisfied; we will keep wanting more and more. Back in Guyana, in the simplicity of life, we found time to visit the older folks, sharing things with them, and life was more peaceful and satisfying. It was generally a life of sharing compared with the lifestyle of the developed countries which focus on “me,” “mine.”
Selfish grasping leaves empty lives
We may have to change our habits if we are to obtain eternal life, as we strive to put God first and material things behind. The things of this life mean less and less to us as we advance in age and are no longer able to enjoy them. Their futility and vanity are felt even more at this stage in our lives. In our later years, it is the knowledge of God and the wholehearted service we give to Him and the joy we receive in so doing which sustain and comfort us as we look confidently toward eternal life.
Here is the hundredfold that Jesus promises – the peace which passes all understanding. All other things will recede to their rightful places as the reality of the kingdom comes fully into focus.
Yes, we can see it is possible to share the blessings God gives us with others, because the knowledge we acquire from Him opens our eyes to the joy we can experience in giving. This is the only way that God’s blessing will so effectively fill our lives. We shall lack nothing, as it will point us to eternal happiness. Hence Jesus’ advice is to “get rid of our weakness in selfishly using our belongings,” “shed it if it is enslaving us,” “share it with those who do not have.”
Lay aside every weight
In Hebrews 12:1-4, Paul exhorts:
“Lay aside every weight” – those things that ensnare and entangle us, becoming hindrances to our race to the kingdom.
“Let us run with patience” – patience is needed to learn and practice these valuable lessons.
“Looking unto Jesus” – he only must be in full focus.
“Who for the joy that was set before him endured” – Jesus’ perspective was the joy of the kingdom and this enabled him to endure.
“Consider him” – concentrate on him, keep our attention fully on him; if not, we may become weary and faint in the race.
In running a race, we must keep our eyes fully on the finish line and not look back at the other runners. The kingdom is ahead of us. Let us focus solely on this, using His blessing as He directs and we shall obtain a hundredfold in this life and also enter into life eternal.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One