The Rich and The Righteous

How do we attain eternal life? Times have changed but perceptions haven’t changed much.

Overview

Four key questions are posed in this passage. The answers to which determine our destiny.

  • What good thing can I do to inherit eternal life?
  • What do I still lack?
  • Who then can be saved?
  • What is in it for us?

Bible Passage

Bible Passages: Matt 19.16-30; Mark 10.17-31; Luke 18.18-30; 22.28-30

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Bible Passage

Matt 19:20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 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.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Bible Passage

Matt 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

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. 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. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Introduction

Most people automatically assume that doing good should win us eternal life.

The Pharisees had set a standard of living after adding a plethora of norms over and above what God has required.

Christians today have an unspoken “standard’ of behaviour for a “good “ Christian.

Most sermons are on these norms of behaviour.

Four key questions

Four key questions are posed in this passage. The answers to which determine our destiny.

  • What good thing can I do to inherit eternal life?
  • What do I still lack?
  • Who then can be saved?
  • What is in it for us?

What good thing can I do to inherit eternal life?

While we connect worldliness with evil behaviour such as excessive drugs, theft, etc. worldliness can also be connected with human achievement and human efforts for doing good.

The rich young ruler is a classic example.

He demonstrated model behaviour in following God’s commandments.

What good thing can I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus asks “are you following the commandments” quoting a few of them.

Jesus then says “sorry, that’s not enough”.

Why would God give us commandments to follow and then say that following them is not enough?

Jesus is highlighting a key missing ingredient.

He points out that only God is good.

Good is not good enough

The rich young man would have been ready to start hospitals, open orphanages and give millions to God’s house.

As Christians, we often fall into the “doing good” trap.

Jesus clearly states that none of these are good enough.

Only God has the gold standard.

Only God can help us attain it.

What do I still lack?

The rich man was ready to contribute from his possessions.

Jesus wanted his dedicated life.

Does Jesus expect everyone to give up their possessions?

Not necessarily. The rich man was hooked on them. Addicted to them. Jesus expects us to give up that to which we are addicted.

Unless we give up our attachments, we cannot be attached to Christ.

What do I still lack?

In Romans 7, Paul talks of his battle and struggle with the flesh.

Even when he was a dedicated minister for Christ.

We can never win this struggle on our own.

If we are on the losing side, it is because we are depending on our efforts.

As we follow Christ, and allow His spirit to work, while we struggle, we are still victorious, as Paul was.

What do I still lack?

The rich man was ready to contribute from his possessions.

Notice Christ does not give a simple answer. His requirement is that of a complete lifestyle change.

We lack power over sin and the “law of death”. We fall into the earthly standards which however good are temporary. Only a consistent following of Christ and lifestyle with him in control will release us from this power.

Romans 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Who then can be saved?

The pursuit of wealth is everyone’s pursuit.

With it a host of sinful desires colour our thoughts, some get translated into actions.

The disciples understood that no one would be able to fulfil Christ’s condition on their own.

He was asking something humanly impossible.

Who then can be saved?

Jesus’ assessment is that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”.

Wealth is a huge detractor from the kingdom.

When we look at many of the rich and famous, their millions destroyed their lives.

They got into drugs, immorality, etc. eventually died miserable deaths.

They had it all

Then lost it all

Who then can be saved?

Other than the rich and famous, the whole world is drawn to various attractions and bewitched by them.

We think we are feasting on them but Satan is feasting on us and destroying us even in our minds.

We can battle every evil desire first through the help of Jesus and constantly convincing ourselves that this is deceptive and temporary.

Who then can be saved?

Jesus again responds with a powerful quote

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Salvation is in God’s hands and in God’s terms.

The key to salvation lies in faith.

The sign of faith is complete obedience to God’s word.

What's in it for us?

The disciples had no clue what was in store for them.

Jesus did not even begin to describe it.

They were among the most privileged on earth.

To be chosen and learn from the best of the best – the Sovereign Lord Himself.

We too, have that privilege, though we don’t have the opportunity of physically seeing and learning from him.

We too, have treasures beyond measure in store.

 

What's in it for us?

A large portion of the benefits occur “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,…“ Matthew 19:28

What about now?

Even now, there is a deeply meaningful, satisfying way of living this life.


Following Jesus and seeking His will “diligently” and “earnestly” (Heb 11:6).

 

Discussion

1.Do you think Jesus was being hard on the rich young ruler? How would you handle such a situation?

2.How can we earnestly and diligently seek God’s will in our lives? What obstacles do we face?

3. What would we need to give up to offer our wholehearted service to God?

 

Recap

What good thing can I do to inherit eternal life?

  • Nothing good is good enough.
  • Not even adherence to the commandments

What do I still lack?

  • Let go of your addictions (in his case wealth)
  • Get hooked on to Jesus

Who then can be saved?

  • Those who entrust their lives to God

What is in it for us?

  • Many times what you have given up
  • Eternal life
  • Positions in the eternal kingdom

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