Having Everything but Feeling Empty...

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'DO NOT MURDER,' 'DO NOT STEAL,' 'DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' 'Do not defraud,' 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."  But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.---Mark 10:17-22

Dear Girls,

What do we know about this man?  We learn from the accounts in Matthew and Luke that he was young, very rich, and a ruler.  We know that he came running to Jesus and knelt before Him and asked what he could do to inherit eternal life.  I think this young man knew something was wrong...he was successful in the eyes of the world and was doing all the right things on the outside, but I believe he knew something was missing on the inside and came to Jesus for help.  Many of us live our lives this way....looking good in the eyes of the world...saying and doing all the right things but feeling empty inside.

Jesus questions him as to why he calls Him good telling him that there is only One that is good.  I think the young man understood that Jesus was telling him that if he was calling Him good than he must believe that He is God.  So here is this rich young ruler coming to God and asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus reminds him of the commandments and the young man says that he has kept all of them from his youth.

Scripture says that Jesus looking at him, loved him and told him that He lacked one thing.  Here is what he told him:  "Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

Jesus saw through the outward and looked  into this man's heart and told him the reason for his emptiness.  Jesus was not giving him a way of salvation here...He was trying to point out to the young man that he had broken the law of God and needed a Savior. He was worshiping the wrong thing.  His god was his possessions and his money.  Exodus 20:3 says that we are not to put anything before God. This  young ruler's riches owned his heart.  His self effort and his pride was the wall between him and Jesus.  Jesus wanted him to turn both his heart and life over to Him.   He was unwilling to do as Jesus asked. The man tragically went away sad.

It is a miracle when any one of us comes to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  What keeps men from coming to God and receiving His free gift of salvation?   The bottom line for everyone who does not is that they love their sin more than they love their God.  This man's riches robbed him of eternal life.  His outward position might have been bowed before the Lord, but his heart was not.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. --Psalm 139:23-24

Love
Mom