The Rich Young Ruler
Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19:19 Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
19:21 Jesus said unto him, 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.
19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
A young man came to Christ, and said, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Jesus bade him keep the commandments. He replied, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” Jesus looked with love upon the young man, and faithfully pointed out to him his deficiency in keeping the divine law. He did not love his neighbour as himself. His selfish love of riches was a defect, which, if not remedied, would debar him from heaven. “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.” {CS210.3}
Christ would have the young man understand that He required nothing of him more than to follow the example that He Himself, the Lord of heaven, had set. He left His riches and glory, and became poor, that man, through His poverty, might be made rich; and for the sake of these riches, He requires man to yield earthly wealth, honour, and pleasure. He knows that while the affections are upon the world, they will be withdrawn from God; therefore He said to the young man, “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” How did he receive the words of Christ? Was he rejoiced that he could secure the heavenly treasure? Oh, no! “He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” To him riches were honour and power; and the great amount of his treasure made such a disposal of it seem almost an impossibility. {Counsels on Stewardship p.211}
Matthew 19:24 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.
The rich young ruler knew that Jesus spoke the truth when he said, “Go and sell what thou hast and give to the poor. He thought that meant he would have to live the rest of his life in poverty. This was not true. Jesus didn’t tell him to sell ‘everything’. The rich young ruler had amassed a fortune. This is what he was to sell and give to the poor. He didn’t need the riches that he had. All they did was give him a higher place in society and allow him to live in ease and luxury. If he really loved Jesus and wanted to have eternal life he would have spared no means to get it. Instead he let the possessions of this world cheat him out of eternal life. He went away sorrowfully.
Why is it that riches are called “unrighteous mammon”? It is because through riches men are made subject to temptation, to deal unjustly, to use them as they shall please in gratifying their desires, and in fulfilling that which their imagination calls for. Those who are in possession of money are in danger of putting the Lord’s goods to a wrong use, and by this means they are led to forget God …. The rich young ruler thought that he loved God until Jesus revealed his idol to him, and showed him that he was making a god of his possessions. He had come to Christ asking, “What lack I yet?” The answer was, “Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me”(Luke 18:22). {TheUpward Lookp.29}
Millions in this world are laying up for themselves treasures here on earth instead of laying up for themselves eternal treasures in heaven. They seek to be honoured by their fellow men instead of seeking the honour of Christ. They follow the course pursued by the rich young ruler, and turn away from eternal life only because they love the praise and honour of their fellow men. They say to themselves, “I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.” But God says to them ‘Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Let us lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven where moth does not corrupt or thieves steal.