The rich, young man was attached to his things

STUDY: # 846 CHURCH IN THE HOMES FROM: February 17 @ 23, 2015

TOPIC: "The rich, young man was attached to his things" Matthew 19: 16-30

The rich young man came to meet the Lord Jesus. In answer to the young man’s questions, the Lord said: "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." (Matthew 19:21) Jesus emphasized, “If you want to be perfect ...” He should sell his belongings, and give to the poor. Love the poor. This way the young man would have treasures in Heaven (Mark 10:19). He also mentioned to the young man that he should know, and keep the commandments. And the Bible tells us that Jesus loved him. ("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’." Mark 10:21). The Lord mentioned the treasures in Heaven so that the young man would understand that the treasures of this world were not important because everything in this world passes. When a person lays his trust in what he has here on earth, it will be very difficult to enter in the Realm of Heaven. Instead, for everything that you leave of this world, God will give you a hundred times more. You will receive perfection from the Lord. That is what you will get ("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." Matthew 19:29). The man was looking for “eternal life." “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16) He was looking for happiness, satisfaction; peace with God. "What should I do?" The rich, young man thought in terms of actions. We only think in terms of rules and regulations. The rich, young man used this as a pretext to having fulfilled the entire law. In a legalistic sense that may be true, but IN THE SPIRITUAL SENSE, IT WAS NOT, BECAUSE HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIS FELLOWS WAS WRONG. The commandments that Jesus quoted to the young man were precisely our duty to men. He did not mention our duties to God. Jesus wanted him to understand what is important to God, which is why He had to pin him against the wall. Jesus challenged him to sell all he had, and give to the poor. But the young man was a prisoner of his possessions. And if Jesus did not make him understand that, he would never learn. POSSESSIONS ARE A MEANS OF HELPING OTHERS. FOR HIM TO LEARN THIS, AND ACTUALLY DO IT; THAT WOULD BE HIS CROWN! In this biblical account we are taught and clearly see the true meaning of eternal life. Eternal life goes hand in hand with the life of God. In Greek, eternal is written "aionios." That doesn’t exactly refer to what lasts forever; but something that pertains, belongs to or is a characteristic of God. A great characteristic of God that always comes to mind is: AND HE SO LOVED, THAT HE GAVE UP HIS VERY BEST. HE GAVE HIS BELOVED SON! Therefore, the essence of eternal life and the struggle to be a part of it, is not to be carrying out a carefully calculated observance of the commandments, rules and norms as the rich, young man thought. Eternal life and the struggle to obtain it, involves more than that. It is based on an ATTITUDE OF LOVE AND SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY WITH THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU. If we want to reach eternal life, happiness, joy, peace of mind and serenity of heart, it will not be by piling a

combination of credits or points with God for keeping rules and regulations, but by having God’s same attitude of love and care for our fellows, and being able to reproduce it in within us. The young man could not do it; that’s why he became sad. He had struggled in life only for himself. He wanted fortune, he struggled and obtained it. But if he wanted what the Messiah had (he could have had it!) he had to stop his selfishness, and start a new life in Jesus. This way he would’ve achieved eternal life, and a one hundred fold for his life (Matthew 19:29). Riches produce a false sense of independence in people. (“You say, ‘I am rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked’.”) (Revelation 3:17). Fortunes anchor men to this world, it tends to make people selfish. If we would only understand that "We lose what we keep and earn what we give." So Peter asked the Lord. "We have left everything to follow you! What then will be for us?"(Matthew 19:27). It was natural for Peter to ask Jesus what he would get in return for leaving everything. Jesus’ kind answer is for you too (Matthew 19: 28-30). HE WHO SHARES A CAMPAIGN WITH CHRIST, WILL ALSO SHARE THE TRIUMPH WITH CHRIST, AND HE WHO BARES THE CROSS WILL WEAR THE CROWN. If there are true believers, there is a beautiful family, that of Christ. And in Christ we have more than we could ever imagine! Amen.