(17) And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
(18) And Jesus said unto him, Why call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
(19) You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother.
(20) And he answered and said unto him, Teacher, all these have I observed from my youth.
(21) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
(22) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Suppose you had the chance to ask Jesus one, and only one, question. What would it be? It might depend upon your circumstances; if you were ill, you might ask for healing, for example. But what if your circumstances were high and good indeed?
That's what we have here. The man is rich in the things of this world. We may conclude from the fact that Christ does not rebuke his presumption but instead loves him that he indeed has kept the commandments. In short, he is a man who has been blessed by God with all earthly blessings, one who is righteous under the Law of Moses—and still he has a question. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
If you want the right answers, you must ask the right questions. Jesus points him to the Law, but only to bring out the fact that something is yet to be fulfilled. Jesus is that fulfillment of the Law. He makes that point to the young man by pointing out that only God is good. It forces the question: who is this man Jesus? If he is indeed God in the flesh, then he is lord over all who worship God. It is that lordship which is at the center of this tragedy. Many of us are willing to accept Jesus as a great teacher and moral authority—but that is not his claim. He claims to be God. If he is, then he should be your Lord. If he is not, you should despise him.
The matter becomes even more radical in Jesus reply. Note that it says that he loved this young man. And why not? God loves those who keep his commandments. Why then did not Jesus simply commend him? It is precisely because he loved him that he challenged him—on the issue of lordship. Either the man's money was his master, or God.
Like Nicodemus at night, the ruler was looking for the last small step. As Nicodemus was told to be born again, this man is also told to renounce his life and turn about radically. One thing stands between him and eternal life: his money. Get rid of it; then follow your Lord. The issue is not the money; the issue is lordship.
How about you? Is there something in your life which stands between you and your Lord Jesus? Is there anything which causes you to put Christ "on hold" while you deal with it? Many things can do this; a job, your stocks and bonds, your hobby, your spouse (or the one you are pursuing), the new house, the new car, or just the everyday cares of this world—how will I make it until the next paycheck? One Lord—the question is, which?
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