The cost
Matthews gospel records this incident between a young man and Jesus,
"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "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."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22
Here we seen a young man who wanted to know how to get eternal life. To which Jesus said obey the commandments. The young man telling Jesus he did. To which Jesus 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.
Upon hearing this Matthew records,
“When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:22.
When it comes to truly following Christ, Jesus must come first in our lives. We must trust completely in God to supply our needs not in the wealth of this world.
The young man here put his trust in his wealth. He believed in God. He followed the commandments, but his faith was in material things not in God.
As believers in Christ Jesus we must remember that our complete trust must be in God. While God may not ask us to give up all our material possessions, our faith must be strong enough that if He does we will be willing to give everything, and rely on Him.
Please think about it.
Matthews gospel records this incident between a young man and Jesus,
"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "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."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22
Here we seen a young man who wanted to know how to get eternal life. To which Jesus said obey the commandments. The young man telling Jesus he did. To which Jesus 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.
Upon hearing this Matthew records,
“When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:22.
When it comes to truly following Christ, Jesus must come first in our lives. We must trust completely in God to supply our needs not in the wealth of this world.
The young man here put his trust in his wealth. He believed in God. He followed the commandments, but his faith was in material things not in God.
As believers in Christ Jesus we must remember that our complete trust must be in God. While God may not ask us to give up all our material possessions, our faith must be strong enough that if He does we will be willing to give everything, and rely on Him.
Please think about it.
