Text: Matthew 19:16-30
By: Jude Obomedaire
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22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
INTRODUCTION
The story above came up while Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. A young ruler approached Jesus and asked how he can gain eternal life. He came addressing Jesus with so much respect. Jesus reminded him of the Ten Commandments which has to do with how to treat others.
He replied that he has kept all these commandments from birth. But Jesus went further by asking him to sell all he has and give to the poor, thereafter come and follow Him but he went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions.
This short story has a lot of lessons for Christians today. There is more to this story but I want us to focus on the sacrifice required of this young ruler.
WHAT IS SACRIFICE?
Sacrifice is an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity, e.g. Christ giving Himself for crucifixion.
It is an act of giving up something of value for the sake of something else regarded as more important.
Synonyms (another word we can use in place of sacrifice) include loss, foregoing, abandonment, relinquishment, etc.
Verse 22 – The story reveal what we cherish most as Christians. It is about relationship between a person’s greatest desire and eternal life.
A lot of us are in the same position today, it does not necessarily mean you must be rich or poor. It has to do with letting go of whatever you cherish most for the sake of eternal life.
Whatever that is preventing us from keeping God’s commandment is our great possession. This great possession can be our spouses (wives or husbands), children, business, friends, lifestyles, adultery, fornication, addictions, etc. The Bible used the word sorrowful because it is never an easy decision.
MORAL LESSONS FOR US TODAY
GOD WILL NEVER TAKE A DECISION FOR YOU
God will never force anyone to believe in Him. The decision to put God first rest on our shoulders.
Jesus only told the rich man all he need to do to gain eternal life. The decision to choose was left to him.
YOU CAN’T SAVE WHAT JESUS DID NOT KEEP (Matthew 16:25-26)
25 for whoever will save his life shall loss it, and who ever will loss his life for my sake shall find it
The rich young ruler went away from Christ who has the power to provide him everything and anything he can think or imagine. So many of us have walked away from Christ secretly because of one desire or the other at the expense of eternal life.
Jesus said anyone who will save his life will lose it. Job lost everything because of God but God blessed him more (Job 42:12; Matthew 19:26-28).
WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT ETERNAL LIFE IS
We should focus on things that will last forever rather than using our energy on temporary things.
Whatever we are seeing here on earth is just for a while but eternal life is forever.
One thing that gives us joy is that whatever we suffer here on earth because of Christ has an end but eternal punishment is forever. Choose wisely today.
FOLLOWING CHRIST MEANS FORSAKING YOURSELF
Anyone who is not ready to forsake himself for Christ can never gain eternal life.
Choosing eternal life means you have to forgo everything. It is no longer about you. I have heard persons saying:
* The worship is boring
*They quarrel too much
*The days of worship are too much etc.
God knows we are full of self that is why the book of John channel us to focus our attention on the cross – Christ.
CONCLUSION
Christ never forced the rich young ruler to choose to follow Him.
What is that thing which:
*Prevents you from living a godly life
*Makes you forsake the gathering of the saints
*Walk away from the presence of God
Today is a call for you to sacrifice such things before they become your idols.
Are you ready to sacrifice them or walk away sorrowfully?
May God gives us the strength to sacrifice every idol in Jesus Name, amen!
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