Monday, August 24, 2009

Bankrupt Bounty

Try to picture yourself in the scene. Jesus has returned to Judea. Large crowds strain to hear His message and be healed of their diseases. A wealthy young ruler sprints onto the scene from out of nowhere and kneels at Jesus feet. Silence falls over the crowd in anticipation of Jesus’ next move. As a local, you recognize the young zealot. He is remarkably sincere in his quest to please God, a “shoe-in” to make Pharisee. He eagerly asks Jesus what he must do to secure a place in heaven and a conversation follows:

Ruler: Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16)

Jesus: Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:17)

Ruler: Which? (Matthew 19:18)

Jesus: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 19:18-19)

Ruler: All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (Matthew 19:20)

Jesus: If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matthew 19:21)

But … the young man … went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:22)

Jesus: [to disciples] Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:23-24)

The rich young ruler was probably accustomed to Pharisees fawning over him for his wealth. Their flatteries had convinced him that pleasing God meant tithing and keeping the Ten Commandments. He thought he had everything money could buy and that religion could offer; that is until Jesus showed up.

Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, this new iconoclastic rabbi taught with authority, vanquished demons, healed the sick and raised the dead! Whenever Jesus taught, his heart would burn within him. He yearned to know God the way Jesus talked about Him. Whatever Jesus and the twelve had, the young tycoon wanted it.

He approached Jesus respectfully, in the same way he would one of the Pharisees. Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16) Expecting Jesus to suggest a reasonable percentage, say 10%, he was caught off guard by the Son of Man’s initial response, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. (Matthew 19:17) So much for culling favor with flattery. One assumption down, one to go.

He regained his footing when Jesus turned to a topic that was right up his alley, Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. (Luke 18:20) The Pharisees had told him as much and often affirmed his goodness. Check. Been there, done that: “All these things have I kept from my youth up.”

As “I think I can do this” formed in his thoughts, Jesus’ next statement jolted the young aristocrat’s heart like a bolt of lightning. One thing you lack … Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. (Luke 18:22) Though spoken in a normal tone of voice, Jesus’ words were louder than thunder. Evidently, he only heard the “sell everything you have and give to the poor” part, and missed the “and you will have treasure in heaven” part. “One thing I lack?!” he thought to himself, “I have everything!” He waited for option two, but it didn’t come and Jesus didn’t flinch. When he realized Jesus was serious, the young man’s countenance fell and he walked away with a sorrowful heart.

Jesus didn’t need or want the young man’s wealth. He wanted his heart. Temporal wealth is of little consequence in the economics of God’s kingdom. Jesus instructed the young man to organize a big yard sale, sell everything he owned, and give the proceeds to the poor! I can picture Judas Iscariot losing it in the background as Jesus matter-of-factly dismisses enough wealth to bankroll their ministry for the foreseeable future.

After the young man leaves, Jesus turns to His disciples and says, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:23, 24)

Rather than mangle Jesus’ words to make them fit twenty-first century American prosperity, I will leave you where the rich young ruler began, kneeling inquisitively at Jesus’ feet. What is Jesus telling you to dispense with? What has your heart? What might be keeping your camel from squeezing through the eye of Heaven’s needle?

The only one who can answer that question for you, or me, is Jesus Himself. I pray that you will find the grace to do just as He says. I pray that you will stay.

PRAYER

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, be merciful to me a sinner. I give you everything that I have and that I am and I ask you to show me how to “travel light.” Teach me to be content with what I have. Create in me a generous heart that I may give joyfully to others in need.

Copyright © 2009, Seeds for Good Soil