Digging Deeper – November 16, 2023
And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Luke 18:18-25 (ESV)
MISPLACED HOPE
It’s so easy to read the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18 with an air of superiority and self-righteousness. I’ve caught myself judging this Pharisee, wondering how he can be so blind to what Jesus has to offer. And, then I come to a harsh and painful realization: I am just like him.
Most of us would likely agree that Jesus offers more than we could ever hope for, and infinitely more than we deserve. Yet, we are still lured by worldly treasures and prefer to engage in perception management (fooling others into believing something about us) rather than being ALL IN on God’s agenda.
This man was all about “checking the box.” He was so confident that he had followed the Ten Commandments to a tee; ironically, he was oblivious to the fact he hadn’t made it past the First one: “You shall have no other gods before me.” And yet, something still prompted him to ask Jesus how he could find eternal life.
Jesus shares with him the key to finding true joy: by removing the barrier to discovering True Life – i.e., selling all his possessions, giving them to the poor, and following Him! The man walks away dejected, hoping there would be a way he could hold onto all he had – all that had a hold on him – and still find salvation. But Jesus says it’s not possible:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24-26 (ESV)
How about you? What are you holding onto that has its talons gripping you even more firmly? What do you need to surrender to discover God’s best? When heaven becomes your focus, earthly riches will loosen their grip on your heart!
C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.
