Filling In the Gap by Brother Curtis Hansen

         This morning's scripture selection is going to come from the book of Matthew chapter 19. We will be reading starting at verse 16 to verse 30. It is the account of Jesus speaking with the rich young ruler. There are accounts of this meeting in the book of Mark chapter 10, verses 17 to 27 and the book of Luke chapter 18 starting at verse 18 to verse 30. The rich young ruler is pursuing Jesus to have him answer a question. As we start reading this story we will see that this rich young ruler is rather wise despite his youth, but, the answer Jesus gives makes him very sorrowful.

        16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

        Let's read that question again. What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? This is a question asked by many people still today regarding salvation. The young ruler realizes in this verse he is not as good as Jesus.

        17 And he said to him,"Why call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

        Jesus is asking the young man a pointed question in Why call me good? Jesus is looking for reverence from the young ruler as he is looking for it still today from us. If there was true reverence from the rich young ruler in his approach to Jesus, his eyes would be open to so much more than what he knows. 

        18 He said unto him, which? Jesus said, Thou shall do no murder, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness,

        19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

        20 The young man said unto him, All these things I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

        The young ruler is showing self awareness in his reply to Jesus there in verse 20. He knows that he is missing something in his life because even following the law was not enough. There was still an empty space inside. We must understand that even today there is a difference between being a leader and a person of influence. Let's read verse 21.

        21 Jesus said unto him, If thou will be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

        If you want to be perfect, you sell your belongings. We return to the true reverence Jesus is seeking from the young ruler, The root of the young ruler's problem is coveting his possessions. God has no problem with us having things. The problem has been when we place our possessions above God. When you put Jesus above all things you have in life, that is the sign of true reverence. God speaks in different verses that he will give you your requests when you put him verse. Adding emphasis to verse 21, you can see in the 6th chapter of Matthew and verse 20;

        20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

        Jesus was advocating his followers to invest in heaven while here on earth when he gave the sermon on the mount. This reply to the rich young ruler wasn't something Jesus pulled out of thin air to rattle the man. He had been talking about it from the beginning of his ministry. 

        Too often we approach our walk to Jesus as an event written on our calendar. We compartmentalize our relationship into hourly visits and lie to ourself that we are in a healthy relationship. If this description is something that hits you on a gut level, you are the rich young ruler because you value your possessions more than your relationship with God. Your time should be surrendered wholly to God and not to something that feeds your flesh or your ego. You cannot treat the symptoms to an illness if you don't get to the source of it.

        22 But when the young man heard that saying; he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

        23 Then Jesus said unto his disciples; Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

        Contrary to many lines in a praise song or from some other pulpits this morning, Jesus didn't go after the rich young ruler, chasing him down when he went away sorrowful nor did Jesus go out of his way to barter with him about the ruler's great possessions. Jesus was done with the ruler because there would never be true reverence from him. 

        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 the kingdom of God.

        Once again to repeat; Jesus is not against you having things or striving to make your life comfortable here and now. The problem God has with someone who proclaims to be a believer is when they are telling anyone and everyone they are giving 100% of their life in following Jesus when the reality is they're giving 30-40% of their time.  A sad fact is man is always more concerned about their appearance, influence, standing with the public at large, and their possessions than their relationship with God. The rich young ruler had good intent but he had asked Jesus the question wrong.

        25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying who then can be saved?

        26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men it is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

        Jesus puts an end to this question from his disciples by stating that "With men it is impossible". The sacrifice of his life would be far greater than selling of the possessions. The ruler is like a lot of people merely wanting assurance that he is saved. It's the number one question Christians ask today. Here's your answer, no one truly knows that answer until they pass away. You cannot have eternal life and overcome obstacles along the way without God. 

        27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

        Reliable Peter has to ask "What's in it for me?" He had material wealth and possessions as a fisherman when he followed Jesus. The kingdom goes on without riches and possessions. For added context we see in Luke chapter 18 and verse 24 "How hardly shall they that have riches enter the kingdom of God." 

        28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

        The disciples were Jewish and are told they would be sitting upon a throne after death and judging the individual 12 tribes of Israel. They were to judge their own house first. Today, we must always be aware and ready to judge our house as well. If you look at 1 John 2:15 you see that John addresses valuing things more than God. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. Your possessions, your good deeds alone will not win you salvation. God is the key to everything.

        29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or other, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

        30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.