Two Stories

Please read Mark 10:17-27 for today's text.  The story goes like this:   A man came up to Jesus and inquired about what was necessary to inherit eternal life. Jesus reminded him of the commandments like, "Do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not kill, etc."  The young man told Jesus he had kept all the commandments since his youth. Notice what the scripture says next'

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.  Mark 10:21-22

It's a sad story but a story we all need to hear. We can relate to it. We all have "things" in our lives that would be difficult to give up. In this man's life it was great wealth.  And before we examine anything else let's notice this man wasn't prevented from inheriting eternal life because he was wealthy. His failure and grief came because he loved his possessions more than he loved God. Obviously this man had not kept all the commandments. For him, his money was his god, and he was putting that before the one true God, a violation of commandment number one.

There is another Bible story about Abraham. Abraham loved God really wanted to be obedient to God. Genesis 22 tells the story of God testing Abraham. God told him to take Isaac, his only son, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Abraham obeyed, to the point of tying up Isaac and placing him on the stack of firewood.  He reached out his knife-wielding hand to kill the boy, but an angel of the Lord stopped him. 

 Can a man be so devoted to God that he would kill his own son, sacrificing him as a burnt offering? Apparently Abraham was that devoted and willing to go through with God's instruction. But God stopped him just in time, telling Abraham, you don't have to do this.  Abraham passed the test. God knew Abraham's heart was right.

I have often wondered what would have happened in the first story, if the wealthy man had told Jesus he would follow the instruction to sell everything, give the money to the poor, and follow him?  After all, Jesus was only wanting to know where his heart was.  Would he be willing to give up everything to follow Jesus? This wealthy man chose to put his faith and trust in his possessions. 

The message from both stories is the same.  The question comes to us daily and in various forms. Are we willing to give up that which is precious to us in this life, in order to inherit eternal life?  

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The message of the gospel is that salvation is God's free gift for you. In the light of all that means, it carries with it such a love and devotion for God, that we are willingly dedicated to give up all that we have and all that we are, for Him. 

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