Word@Work 116 - Mark 10:21-23
Published: Fri, 05/02/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 10:21-23 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." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" (NIV)
It would be heartbreaking to know of all the people who Jesus loves ... who nevertheless walk away. The passage is clear that Jesus is not hostile in any way to this young man, although He is dead set against his value system. It may still surprise us that this young man's good life and personal self-discipline in religion, counted for nothing with Jesus. The Lord comes straight to the point. Sell everything (he must have had a lot), give it to those who have nothing (people without a privileged background or unemployed or sick or those with many dependents).
The reward, Jesus said, was treasure in heaven - enjoying the everlasting pleasure of Jesus, over a life sold-out for Him. Then following Jesus, for the rest of his life, would be a consequence of receiving eternal life (not a way of earning it). Clearly it was tough medicine; that much showed in his face. But what was he sad about? The prospect of indefinite subtractions from his luxury lifestyle did not please him. Neither did the prospect of missing eternal life, which he had worked so hard (but in vain) to achieve. He was caught on the horns of a dilemma. He had to choose what he was willing to lose most. The answer was painfully expressed in his slow walk away from Christ.
How many come running to Jesus (in hope of an answer to the hole in life), but walk away sad, when they find that His values do not match with theirs, and their earthly ambition is more precious than their eternal future. However nice it would be to think that everybody who hears the Gospel will receive Christ, the reality is that many do not. But they can never say that they did not know, or that Jesus never loved them. It is hard for the wealthy to come to Christ, but not impossible - if they make the right choice.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You that You love all that you have made. Help me to be personally obedient in everything, and not selectively. Help me to pray for my colleagues and friends who find it so hard to let go of what they cannot keep - so that they may keep what they cannot lose. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
It would be heartbreaking to know of all the people who Jesus loves ... who nevertheless walk away. The passage is clear that Jesus is not hostile in any way to this young man, although He is dead set against his value system. It may still surprise us that this young man's good life and personal self-discipline in religion, counted for nothing with Jesus. The Lord comes straight to the point. Sell everything (he must have had a lot), give it to those who have nothing (people without a privileged background or unemployed or sick or those with many dependents).
The reward, Jesus said, was treasure in heaven - enjoying the everlasting pleasure of Jesus, over a life sold-out for Him. Then following Jesus, for the rest of his life, would be a consequence of receiving eternal life (not a way of earning it). Clearly it was tough medicine; that much showed in his face. But what was he sad about? The prospect of indefinite subtractions from his luxury lifestyle did not please him. Neither did the prospect of missing eternal life, which he had worked so hard (but in vain) to achieve. He was caught on the horns of a dilemma. He had to choose what he was willing to lose most. The answer was painfully expressed in his slow walk away from Christ.
How many come running to Jesus (in hope of an answer to the hole in life), but walk away sad, when they find that His values do not match with theirs, and their earthly ambition is more precious than their eternal future. However nice it would be to think that everybody who hears the Gospel will receive Christ, the reality is that many do not. But they can never say that they did not know, or that Jesus never loved them. It is hard for the wealthy to come to Christ, but not impossible - if they make the right choice.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You that You love all that you have made. Help me to be personally obedient in everything, and not selectively. Help me to pray for my colleagues and friends who find it so hard to let go of what they cannot keep - so that they may keep what they cannot lose. 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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