The Value of Eternal Life. Luke 18:18-30 For many people, their personal identity and worth are tied to their social status, which includes their occupation, nationality, position in society, and especially the amount of wealth they possess. The revolutionary values of the kingdom of God, which the Lord Jesus Christ taught, went against what people then and now believe. To many, wealth is seen as proof of success, but in reality, it is often the enemy of true happiness and, in many cases, salvation. Wealth has the power to control the minds, motivations, and goals of those who intentionally pursue it.
The “certain ruler” who asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life was a young man who paid close attention to what Jesus said about entering the kingdom of God as a little child. Like a lawyer who had asked Jesus the same question earlier, he wanted some reassurance—some way of knowing in his lifetime that he would have eternal life. Like many people today, he believed that eternal life depends on doing something to earn it. He wanted Jesus to give him a template or another method to measure his qualifications. He wanted to know what a passing grade would be so he could be certain of achieving immortality and avoid perishing.
The Lord's response to his question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” was short and direct. He was told to do the one thing he was unlikely to do. Many people seek salvation, but they want it on their terms and in a way that allows them to say, “I did it my way.” However, salvation is not something earned; it is a gift from God. Because there are no strings attached to such an important gift, many are skeptical of something so vital and necessary that it is offered freely.
They can’t seem to recognize that sin-polluted works of human hands would cheapen something that is priceless. Eternal life is free and priceless because its value far exceeds our wildest imagination. All the wealth of the entire earth and even the whole universe could not come close to matching the value of the gift of eternal life that God gives. It cost Him the life of His Son, and the Lord Jesus Christ was willing to pay that price with His own blood.
The reply of the Lord Jesus was as straightforward and practical as the ruler’s question. “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” To the dismay of the young man, the cost of eternal life was far beyond what he could imagine. The Lord challenged the young man's traditional ethics. Total personal commitment to the Lord, to the extent of following Him, was more than he was willing to pay.
Jesus responded personally to the words of the ruler, saying, “Good Master (Teacher).” His question was essentially, “Do you know who I am?” Every person we encounter needs to be confronted at some point with the fact that Jesus is God. Before God's words enlighten a seeker's soul, they must be convinced of the power, authority, and certainty of the value of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as the only way sin is justly addressed. The problem with the young ruler was that he thought he was also “good.” He needed to learn that he wasn’t good enough to earn eternal life, no matter what he did. He considered himself to have kept the fifth to the ninth commandments perfectly, which clearly shows he did not truly know God and did not love his neighbor as himself.
One problem with wealth is that it can deceive people into believing that being comfortable, powerful, prestigious, secure, and successful defines their worth. We have a natural tendency to rely on riches despite ourselves. Our security should never be based on wealth but on God alone. Living by faith involves sacrifice. It means selling what the Lord asks us to sell and distributing what He wants shared with others in the best way possible. If we need to hold back some things we wish to use now, we should do so until we understand the purpose for which the Lord has entrusted them to us. This is the continuous way of life for those who follow the Lord.
Paying the price of sacrifice to follow the Lord Jesus Christ brings much greater benefits in this life and the next than accumulating wealth. It is impossible for someone who trusts in their riches to be saved. A camel can’t go through the eye of a needle, and a person who relies on wealth as their security can’t go to heaven. It is lost sinners that Jesus saves. Their “treasure” is in heaven, and it is not measured in money. That treasure is eternal life paid for by the precious blood of Christ. Any treasure on earth is small compared to the value of eternal life that lasts forever. Riches can be lost easily and are temporary at best. Money itself is not the real problem; rather, it’s our attitude toward it, the actions we take to acquire it, and how we use it.
Nobody enters the kingdom of God by their own efforts or because of what they possess. God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. The question the ruler had then—and many people have now—when they hear they cannot be saved by their own efforts is that no one will gain eternal life through their own righteousness or works. We are saved by grace alone, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can accept eternal life as a gift that God offers. When that is a genuine act of faith, such a person will be saved and will know it through the word of God. They will gladly thank the Lord who “having not seen, we love.”
Even Peter missed the point the Lord was making because he suggested that by leaving everything behind and following Christ, the disciples had done what the young man didn't. He seemed to think that by doing what they did, they had earned a place in the kingdom. In a gracious response to Peter’s comment, the Lord overlooked the self-congratulatory tone and emphasized the benefits of sacrifice. We should always concentrate on what we have gained, not on what we might lose. Our relationship with God lasts forever.