The Rich Young Man
(This week we are looking at Evangelistic Approaches: How did Jesus, Philip and Paul treat people?)
In today's passage Jesus encounters a rich young man who was zealous to know more about Him. He ran and fell at Jesus' feet. This gesture shows that he was sincere and genuinely interested in Jesus Christ and asked a fundamental question, "Good teacher, what can I do to inherit eternal life?" In other words he was asking "What do I have to do to have a continuous knowledge and life with Christ?"
I love Jesus' answer to the question: "Why do you call me good? No-one is good except God alone." Here we are talking of Christ who is all good, all loving, all knowing and who knew no sin. But Christ revealed to him that, as long as you are a human being you will need to continue to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness. As the Apostle Paul writes to the Philippians: "Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal but I press on to take hold of that which Jesus Christ took hold of me."(3:12)
Paul is clear that the Christian life is a work in progress. Instead of claiming to be perfect. Paul calls us to pursue becoming more like Christ. In His answer Christ was rebuking the spirit of pride and boasting in humanity. Jesus then shared some of the ten commandments which the young man said he knew since he was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him and said: "You lack one thing: Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven."
Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus loves us and He wants us to have a relationship with Him. The rich young man had been greatly blessed materially, he thought he lacked nothing but Christ revealed there was something he lacked spiritually...
Unfortunately that which he lacked proved to be impossible for him to surrender, and his face fell and he went away sad for he had great wealth.
Is there something that the Holy Spirit has been telling us to surrender in our lives that we cannot? Do we value ourselves more than we value others? Do we consider ourselves more precious than our fellow sisters and brothers? Are we proud and inconsiderate not accommodating others? Jesus Christ is saying to us if we want to follow him we must let go all our earthly treasures. Sadly, we have become too comfortable and it's now high time we move out from our comfort zones and become true followers of Christ. Let us continue to place our faith in Christ, the author and finisher of our lives.
| 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, honor 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." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Mark10:17-22) |
Rev Susan Mumba. Chaplain at Chitemere Hurold Munro Secondary school, Zimbabwe.
