A TRAGIC DECISION

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.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

Mark 10:21-22

Sometime in 1978 while I served the Irish Methodist Youth Department as a member of the Youth Evangelism Team 5. The team of Helen, Linda, Sean and I visited an elementary school to conduct devotions. The encounter has been etched in my mind because of what I concluded was a tragic decision. Why? This is why. Helen led the devotions and she asked the students questions such as: Who was Jesus Christ? What did he say about God? How did he die? Why did he die? How can we be saved? What will happen to those who do not accept Jesus as their saviour? It was sobering to hear the children giving the correct answers to the questions. Then, after a few words of exhortation and encouragement, “All those who would like to accept Jesus and go to heaven let me see your hand”, and after all these years I can still recall the shocked silence when we noticed that not a single hand went up.

What was Jesus’ reaction at the end of his encounter with the young man of our text? Have you ever wondered? Was that his last encounter with Jesus or did he get another chance? The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) says he was a rich man. Matthew adds that he was young (19:22) and Luke says he was a ruler (18:18) probably of the local Synagogue or a member of the Sanhedrin. That he obeyed the commandments from he was a boy points to a morally upstanding young man whose life was clean and pure. Notwithstanding, he had an itch he could not scratch.

 

With urgency and humility (v. 17) he came to the right person, with the right attitude, for the right purpose and at the right time. Unfortunately his power, possessions, prestige and popularity contributed to his belief that what one does is critical to one’s salvation. The question “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matt. 19:16) suggests that he had lots of good things stacked up and was now seeking to add a few more to assure him of heaven. The culture, belief and practice of the time supported this view and so the Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Jesus gave him a threefold menu of what he should do: 

1. Sell his possessions and give the money to the poor (or place nothing else ahead of Me). 
2. Take up your cross (or you have to die to yourself and I will live through you). 
3. Follow me (or be my disciple). 

This was not palatable. He could not digest it. The Rich Young Ruler decided to put earthly possessions above “the Kingdom of God” and walked away a sad person. He wanted eternal life on his own terms. Years have passed but has it changed?

We still need to choose. I know! For you it might not be money. But could it be pleasure, or education, or your job, or a promotion, or romantic relationship, or some sin, or family, or your freedom. It is amazing how many persons want to be saved, want to go to heaven, want to see God’s church grow but are not willing to do what God wants them to do. They prefer to do what they want to do and do it their way. In contrast the hymn writer Horatius Bonar says "Thy way not mine, O Lord, However dark it be”!

Thought:      What we do with Jesus in this life, will determine what He will do with us in the next life.

Prayer Focus: That in everything you will “seek first the Kingdom of God”