16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 27 Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, . . . 29 every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Mat 19:16; 21-24; 27-29 KJV)
In a recent conversation, a young, single friend told me how that a girl he had met brashly proclaimed, “I do not go to church and never intend to go to church. I do not want anyone telling me how I ought to live. Earlier in my life I went to church. I have been saved but . . .”
While he appreciated the honesty, my young friend knew a relationship with this young lady could not continue because he is a committed Christian who is totally involved in church services, as well as Christian ministry.
Sadly this young lady is much like the young rich man in today’s passage above. The difference is that “he went away sorrowful” while she has gone away arrogantly. She is actually more like Cain (Gen. 4)than this young rich guy.
The rich youth in Matthew’s narrative represents all people everywhere who think that doing something good is all that is required to receive eternal life. They want eternal life but . . . not commitment to Christ . . . not giving up anything for Christ . . . not following Christ. And that is the point of Matthew’s story: Receiving eternal life is a total commitment issue with no buts. Claiming eternal life without total commitment to Christ is like a wealthy person who is committed to his riches above everything else, including eternal life. Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,” than for this type person to enter the kingdom of God (v.24). Whether a commitment to wealth or to something else, such commitments will keep us out of the kingdom of God.
Now on the other hand, we who have totally committed everything for Christ want to know, like Peter, what we will get in exchange for our sacrifices. In response to Peter’s inquiry Jesus said, “every one that hath forsaken” all other commitments “for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (v.29).
Dear Father, thank you for your commitment to us through your Son that we might have eternal life. Grant that every person who reads these words will totally commit his or her life to Christ as Lord and Savior. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in a commitment to Christ with no buts,