Word@Work 115 - Mark 10:17-21
Published: Thu, 05/01/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 10:17-21 As 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?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No-one is good - except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus 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." (NIV)
This is a classic. So don't let familiarity make your eye skip down the page. This young man was not as inept as some suggest. He comes to Jesus, running. He had purpose, an important desire and a great question. He came kneeling as a supplicant and respected the authority of Jesus' teaching. It was a fine start to the interview, but would he find a place in God's eternal life? The story deserves closer examination.
Jesus points out that goodness cannot be separated from God (or obtained through any other route). Goodness is not man-made, although God will help us to do it. We can never make it to God by being good, but those who love God want to do such things. This young man was clearly pious and had a respectable moral history ... and Jesus did not rubbish all that. But the Saviour was less concerned about his past than his future. What would be he like after his encounter with Jesus? Alas, although he was willing to add lots of good things, he was unwilling to subtract anything - especially money.
Sounds familiar? Most people will do a few good things for good causes, and even give a little cash. But unless you have had a life-changing encounter with Christ, you are unlikely to take anything significant away from your empire. Unless your values have been changed, as you understand the nature of eternal life - you will inevitably hang onto this life ... and hang on with an iron grip. Sacrificial giving is a hall mark of eternal life: as modelled by Jesus. So, perhaps it is now time to choose to take some things out of your life. For the unconverted, it will be a potent example of Gospel living: a model for those who Jesus is calling to follow Him.
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for all the things I have, and for making me the person I am. Please show me how I can mark my dependence on You, by giving back to you the things I cannot keep and cannot take with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
This is a classic. So don't let familiarity make your eye skip down the page. This young man was not as inept as some suggest. He comes to Jesus, running. He had purpose, an important desire and a great question. He came kneeling as a supplicant and respected the authority of Jesus' teaching. It was a fine start to the interview, but would he find a place in God's eternal life? The story deserves closer examination.
Jesus points out that goodness cannot be separated from God (or obtained through any other route). Goodness is not man-made, although God will help us to do it. We can never make it to God by being good, but those who love God want to do such things. This young man was clearly pious and had a respectable moral history ... and Jesus did not rubbish all that. But the Saviour was less concerned about his past than his future. What would be he like after his encounter with Jesus? Alas, although he was willing to add lots of good things, he was unwilling to subtract anything - especially money.
Sounds familiar? Most people will do a few good things for good causes, and even give a little cash. But unless you have had a life-changing encounter with Christ, you are unlikely to take anything significant away from your empire. Unless your values have been changed, as you understand the nature of eternal life - you will inevitably hang onto this life ... and hang on with an iron grip. Sacrificial giving is a hall mark of eternal life: as modelled by Jesus. So, perhaps it is now time to choose to take some things out of your life. For the unconverted, it will be a potent example of Gospel living: a model for those who Jesus is calling to follow Him.
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for all the things I have, and for making me the person I am. Please show me how I can mark my dependence on You, by giving back to you the things I cannot keep and cannot take with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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