Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the sadness of the rich young man: “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. This is read in Mat 19:21. For earthly riches can prevent us from obtaining the heavenly ones.This rich young man thought that it was enough to be rich and follow the commandments to have eternal life. However, obtaining eternal life is a desire which man cannot satisfy on the basis of his own efforts; because this gift of eternal life is obtained rather by the grace of God and by faith.
Indeed, this rich young man approaching Jesus manifests an ardent and happy desire to obtain eternal life. Only the question was badly put because he would like to know what it takes to do good to have eternal life and the Lord responds by reminding him of the commandments. But the young man’s response shows that he did not realize his inability to do any good: “I have observed all of these things; What do I still have left? ”answers the young man. Then the Lord teaches him that an idol dwells in his heart, for temporal goods are an obstacle which prevents so many people from coming to Christ and actually following him. It is that eternal life is not obtained by doing good only, and the best arrangements with the greatest natural gifts are useless to deserve it, because it is not earned; it is the free gift that the Lord Jesus gives to those who follow him (John 10: 27-30).
That’s why he had to be followed with a heart detached from earthly things. For the Lord answers him: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me. And the young man, having heard this saying, went away very sad, for he had great possessions”. There are many people like him, and they know they need something to be happy with the future; but they want to keep the enjoyment of the goods of this world, not to give up anything, especially not to follow Christ. Yet by following the Lord Jesus, one arrives where his way has ended, that is to say, in eternal glory, for he is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14.6).
Seeing therefore the effect of his words on this young man, he said to his disciples: “Verily, verily I say unto you, it is difficult for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of heaven; and I say to you again: It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ” But they did not understand that these earthly goods had nothing to do with eternal life, since they could only be enjoyed here on earth. For they believed that the rich were favored by the Lord God and would enter more easily into the kingdom of heaven, because they considered things from the man’s merits point of view and not that of grace.
These goods, on the contrary, constituted a great obstacle when it was a question of abandoning everything for a treasure which was for the moment invisible, to follow a despised Christ who had no place to lay his head, in a world where the lost man has “great possessions”. Because the rich young man could spend without counting, to obtain all that is acquired, with money, and also had, by this fact, a certain power: “the pride of the life”, one of these elements of the world of which Scripture speaks in 1 John 2. 16): To be “head of the people”, is not this a place much sought after by all those who, in this century, are thirsty to exercise authority? Something was missing and this emptiness and all the riches of the earth cannot change it. This is why tired of entertaining illusions, we should close our ears to all vain noise coming from the earth and open the door to the Lord (Rev 3.20).
Whereas the poor, having fewer pleasures to leave and less considered by men, more easily accept the grace that has come to them in the person of Jesus Christ. This is why the Lord replies to John the Baptist’s disciples: “The Gospel is preached to the poor”(Mat 11.5).
And to the question of the disciples: “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answers: “For men, this is impossible, but for God, everything is possible”. As some men find fewer obstacles in their path than others in coming to Jesus, it’s equally impossible for both to be saved. But, thanks to the Eternal God who can do everything, he has done everything necessary so that the poor guilty lost and ruined, incapable of anything, can find a perfect salvation which he offers freely to whoever accepts it by faith in the Lord Jesus.
This is why the Lord adds: “But many of the first will be last, and many of the last will be first”. For many who in others’ eyes appear first today will be the last when God shows what he has appreciated in their conduct. And of those who appear to be the last, who by their humble character will have known how to efface themselves, will occupy a place which the Lord gives to those whom he esteems first. “To you also, Lord, goodness; for you render to each one according to his works”(Ps 62:13).
The disciples, not realizing that there is no good in man, were astonished that such a favored and well-disposed man was still so far removed from salvation. Who could succeed? Then the whole truth is revealed: it’s impossible for men, for they cannot overcome the lusts of the flesh. But there will be a regeneration and the state of affairs will be completely renewed when the time comes, under the rule of the Son of Man.
Because the body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit, because redeemed at a high price, we are invited to “glorify God in our body” (1 Cor 6: 15-20). God will judge fornicators and adulterers (Heb 13.4). This is why only the blood of Christ, shed on the cross, can wash away this awful stain (1 John 1.7). However, many were kept, the rich young man was one of them because he said: “Master, I have been keeping all these things from my youth”. But his response shows that he did not realize his inability to do any good.
Yet in his infinite goodness, after providing us with such motives to follow him, the reward will relate to the circumstances in which we have followed the Lord Jesus. And he alone is the judge of what he will grant to each one, for unable to judge according to God, we do not have to appreciate it. Because if we are already part of those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we belong to him in our own right; we are his special treasure, and the spirit of the world, the carnal passions and its riches, are in every way opposed to the Spirit of God. This is why it is important for us to honor the Lord by recognizing, by our liberality, that all good here on earth comes from Him and must return to Him. Then, according to the government of God, these earthly goods will be multiplied to him who, recognizing that he owes everything to the Lord, is a faithful steward in what he has entrusted to him
For it is the fear of the Lord and submission to his Word which alone give us the necessary thread to cross this wicked world in safety. In other words, our offerings only have meaning if they are accompanied by a real feeling of what man owes everything to God. This is why we should honor the Lord by giving him a share of these goods and by offering him the first fruits of all our income. And then our granaries will overflow with food and our vats will overflow with wine (Pro 3.9-10). However, the rich young man seems to say that he got rich by his work. Maybe, but who made it so that he could make a good living? It is the Lord God who provides for all of our needs.
And he sometimes uses intermediaries, but it is always and again he who provides the seed to the sower (2 Cor 9:10). Yet we sometimes hear people say: “He who pays his debts gets richer”. But one could add: “this is why whoever gives to God is enriched”; therefore, the rich young man missed a critical opportunity by rejecting the Savior’s advice. For he said to the crowds following him: “Therefore do not be anxious and say not: What shall we eat? ”Or: “What shall we drink? What will we dress in?” So make the reign of God and what is right in his eyes your primary concern, and all these things will be given to you in addition (Mat 6.31, 33). For God owes us nothing, he can never be our debtor; on the other hand, we owe him everything and in particular our salvation.
The following passages have been compiled for your edification and to facilitate your understanding.
- Conditions for receiving eternal life:
-renounce the world: Luke 18.28-30 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
-have faith in Christ: Jn 3: 14-15 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
-to do the spiritual work: Jn 6.40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”;
-to show self-denial: Jn 12.25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.;
-to have the knowledge of God: Jn 17.3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ;
-Sow for the Spirit: Ga 6.8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ;
- Gain by loss
-the loss of earthly treasures ensures spiritual gain: Mt 19.29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.;
-selflessness is an investment that pays off: Mt 19.29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.;
-it is a spiritual paradox: Mark 8.35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
-humility leads to exaltation: Mark 9.35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
- The Spiritual Kingdom: conditions for entering it:
-humility: Mt 5.3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.;
-compassion: Mt 25.34-35 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,;
-perseverance: Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
-the new birth: Jn 3.3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
-the endurance: Ac 14.22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
-faith and love: James 2.5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
- Glory of Christ Mt 24.30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
-manifested during his second coming: Mt 16.27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
-shared by believers: Mt 19.28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
-contemplated on the mountain: Luke 9.32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
-revealed in the incarnation: Jn 1.14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
-possessed before the foundation of the world: Jn 17.5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (Heb 3.3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.)
From all of the above, we note that the lusts of the flesh and especially wealth can cause us to lose the most important, that is, eternal life. Because for God, everything is possible, and his name be blessed. And in his infinite goodness, after providing us with motives to follow and serve him, he wants to reward what we have done for the sake of his name. As with the disciples, the reward will relate to the circumstances in which we have followed the Lord. Let’s stay focused on his Word and not on perishable things, because with the Savior everything is possible. Our prayers support you all in your efforts to follow him.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on
the indivisibility of salvation and the sovereignty of God: “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.
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