CCF International Church

Yesterday we dealt with the conversation between Jesus and the man who wanted to know the keys to access eternal life.

Matt 19:16-22

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, ” ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19’Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

The central point here is that outward appearances and appropriate religious observances will not cause us to access eternal or abundant life. Many of us may interpret this man’s life as an “exact representation” of God. The image and likeness of God with his clean hands. He in fact was religiously correct from the days of his youth. I know many of us are just like this man. Doing everything right, yet we are unable to step into a victorious, abundant life. The question needs to be asked …. “What do I still lack?” The man could not bear the thought of being separated from his wealth. Jesus knew exactly what he lacked. Jesus did not ask him to be simply generous. Jesus instructed him to disconnect totally from mammon and follow Him. Just as the man could not place his wealth on the altar, many of us are also holding on to things that have brought a spirit of lack into our lives. Give it all up and start to really live! 9:16-22 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, ” ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19’Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. The central point here is that outward appearances and appropriate religious observances will not cause us to access eternal or abundant life. Many of us may interpret this man’s life as an “exact representation” of God. The image and likeness of God with his clean hands; the right posture in the synagogue. He in fact was religiously correct from the days of his youth. I know many of us are just like this man. Doing everything right, yet we are unable to step into a victorious, abundant life. The question needs to be asked …. “What do I still lack?” The man could not bear the thought of being separated from his wealth. Jesus knew exactly what he lacked. Jesus did not ask him to be simply generous. Jesus instructed him to disconnect totally from mammon and follow Him. Just as the man could not place his wealth on the altar, many of us are also holding on to things that have brought a spirit of lack into our lives. Give it all up and start to really live!