Jesus Loved Him

Mark 10:19-21 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
 
THE rich young ruler had come to Jesus on his knees to ask, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ response pointed him to set his mind on God as pure good. Jesus then listed six of the commandments that relate to interaction between people. He hoped the young man would recognize he had not been good before God. Jesus wants the man to know he is not ready to inherit eternal life.
   But the rich, successful young man pridefully claims, “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.” He called Jesus, “Teacher,” but he isn’t ready to listen to the lesson. He displays a fundamental ignorance inherent in the human mind. We do not know we are sinners. Ask almost anyone around the world if he will live in his understanding of eternal life, and he will likely tell you, “I’m not perfect but I’m good enough.” The young man seemed to believe he was more than “good enough”. He seemed to say, “Thank you, Jesus, for affirming my good life.” The young man bowed down on his knees, but his heart remained upright, prepared to defend his life. Then Jesus, God incarnate, responded:
 
Mark 10:21-23 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.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 
 
Jesus loved the prideful man. He didn’t love him to say, “It’s okay. You’re not as good as you think,  but you’re good enough for me.” No, he loved him enough to tell him he lacked one thing. That thing is a full love for God.
   The man’s wealth is his earthly treasure, not his eternal inheritance. His question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life.” was really a question, “Will you allow me to have eternal life just as I am?” Jesus called this man to a particular sacrifice, but he said, “I want to keep my money.”
   This does not mean all rich people are to sell everything. For some this has been true. For others the way they use their wealth is a mark of their faith as they use it for kingdom good. Jesus’ point is that when our knees are bent and we ask, “What must I do?” we need to be ready to say, “Yes, Lord.” The young man did business on his terms. As a consequence, he broke the law, disobeying the first two commands: Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”
   A true heart for eternal life requires sure obedience to the Good Lord.