The Good Life?

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Opening Prayer

Mighty God, by the Holy Spirit, breathe upon the spark of hope within me.

Read Matthew 19:16-30

^[16] Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” ^[17] “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” ^[18] “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ^[19] honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.'” ^[20] “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” ^[21] Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ^[22] When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. ^[23] Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. ^[24] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ^[25] When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” ^[26] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ^[27] Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” ^[28] Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ^[29] And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ^[30] But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Meditate

“If we make more than $50,000.00 a year, we are wealthier than 99% of the world” (David Platt). We need to rejoice in what we have received from God’s hand (see 1 Chron. 29:14) and live as generous givers.

Think Further

The young man is clear about what he wants (16)–perhaps that’s why he was rich. He would have been the first to register for a “Ten Proven Tools for Achieving Eternal Life” seminar. However, as Jesus responds to yet another question (at least five in this week’s readings: 18:1; 18:21; 19:3; 19:16; 19:25), he poses an enigmatic question (17) and then reiterates classic Old Testament teaching (18-20; Exod. 20:12-16; Lev. 19:18). Not surprisingly, this offers no new help, so Jesus focuses on the central issue, his wealth (21). Life in the kingdom is never comfortable, as the man’s response shows (22).

Jesus gives the disciples his own commentary. Wealth is an issue for all who have it (23). So much ink has been spilled in trying to explain the camel and the eye of the needle (24), yet surely it’s just an example of hyperbole. Jesus illustrates an almost-impossible with an impossible. We may try to take comfort in thinking that we are not rich (although beware, wealth is relative) or from the fact that Jesus did not command all his followers to give away their wealth, but R.H. Gundry warns, “That Jesus did not command all his followers to sell all their possessions gives comfort only to the kind of people to whom he would issue that command.”

Once again (10), the upside-down kingdom comes as a shock to the disciples. Is there hope for anyone, they ask (25)? Yes, absolutely! Salvation comes from God, not from what we do (26), and that changes everything. God will be in debt to no one (28-30), and what Matthew describes as a future reward is also placed in the present by Mark and Luke (Mark 10:30, Luke 18:30). What you have already received from God is an account for the future!

Apply

To this young man, wealth had become a consuming idol. That was why Jesus asked him to give his wealth away. Do you have a “consuming idol” that is holding you back from serving Jesus?

Closing prayer

Lord God, forgive me that at times I am a halfhearted disciple, with one foot in the kingdom and the other in the world. Enable me to be a wholehearted disciple.

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