MARK 10:17-31 ONE THING MISSING In the heart of every person whether they want to admit it or not, is an awareness that is part of our humanity. "This life is not all there is to my existence." The writer of Ecclesiastics indicates that "Eternity is in the heart" of every one of us. Even those who have been successful in completing in life what they wanted to accomplish, or gaining all they wanted materially, when they look beyond their dying day, are afraid. When people seek for eternal life in the sphere of their humanity alone, they find it impossible to get the relief they long for. The most pious, noble person, like the young man in this passage of scripture, knows something is lacking.
The first question he had to deal with was, "Who is the Lord Jesus Christ?" When this question in Mark is linked with the second question in Matthew, it becomes clear to us the Lord in His love for this young man, is getting him to face the reality of the deity of Christ. He then addresses the second table of stone on which six of the 10 commandments are written which deal with standards of life in human relationships. These six that relate to our interpersonal relationships, seemed to resonate with this young man. He must have been a real paragon of virtue. His answers seemed to have been honest, not empty boasts.
The first table of stone in the Decalogue deals with mans' relationship with God. It is in this area of life that most people ignore the truth. This man, as do we all, had to understand who was "good." That word has been so diluted by human reasoning that it misses the whole origin of its meaning - God Himself. First in order of priority in the life of this young man was his wealth. The Lord Jesus with authority and without equivocation of any kind took His place as the true "Good Master." He told him plainly to rid himself of that which was first place in his life. It was not a gentle, quiet suggestion, but a command of supreme authority that anything taking the place of "God first" had to go. That is the first of the commandments. The second law is to remove anything that comes between an individual and God. The young man had to decide as to who he thought Jesus Christ really was. If he were to follow Him, it would mean he would acknowledge the Lord Jesus as God. He would have to submit to His authority entirely and forfeit his own self-interests. If we want to find eternal life, we must follow what is of God by following the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have to ask myself, "What does money mean to me?" "What is first in my life?" "Am I a servant to it, or to the Lord?" "What would I really give up to follow my Savior?" The honoring of the name of God is a command of God. The honoring of the name of God is a command of God. The honoring of our time in the way that God sees it will lead us in our work for God and worship of God. The rich young ruler who wanted eternal life did not get that nor did he enter the kingdom of God. When one will not respond to the call of God, he is actually refusing to enter the kingdom of God. Love gives the truth in clarity and responsibility, by explaining the consequences. Any self-sufficient person who trusts in themselves, even though they want what is right, will not receive eternal life. But it is possible with God, not to God, but with God. Peter seemed to understand this teaching and learned that those who trust the Lord Jesus Christ and obey Him, have greater wealth that anything they might have left behind when they began to for the Lord Jesus. Eternal life, when one truly has it, calms the spirit, challenges the soul, conforms the life to be able to consistently and gladly follow our Lord Jesus Christ.
The process seems to challenge the will of many a man. Following Christ is not impossible, in fact any who want to - can. The problem is the ability, but what to me is most important - The path the Savior walks isn't affected by my past deportment.
There are some men who followed Him who made their living from the sea. When they responded to His call, He trained them constantly - That they might be able to articulate divine and holy truth.
Their effectiveness was not based in any way by their financial worth.
Others from various walks of life were willing to obey. When the Savior called them, it was that they with Him would stay Until they had learned from the "Good Master" who they knew was God. And to His Word and will, they submitted, He truly was their Lord.
The need to do the right thing has an inherent cost. Those who give up all for Christ, will find all is not lost. What they have forfeited in obeying Him is of little consequence. All that really counts with God is placed at His own expense.
A relationship with God affects our relationship with men. What we do for the welfare of others is done as unto Him. We can hallow His holy name from the worship in our heart. Our work can also be hallowed when it is for God right from the start.
May I never hold what I think is mine with clenched fist or hand. All belongs to the "Good Master" whether it be house or land. My Lord is God eternal and He intends me to follow Him. When that first step of faith is taken, is when life truly begins.
"Father in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. I know Thee as the God of eternity and the Giver of eternal life. I thank Thee for such a gift and ask of Thee that as Thy servant, I might yet be trusted with the unseen things that are eternal and that bring blessing to man. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."