Matthew 19: 16-26 (NET)

16 Now someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” 

What Happened?

• The ruler appeared to have the right motive: spiritual life
• He also appeared to have the right attitude
• It seems like he knew he was missing something: he was not experiencing God’s love, rest, peace, joy, security etc., or spiritual life
• He even came to the right source!

How about us?

• We know we have an emptiness and a need – money, career, family, etc. does not satisfy
• We want to get rid of our anxiety and obtain the fruits of the spirit – love, joy, peace, and hope

The Young Ruler’s Problem

21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Luke 14:33

• 33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.

Luke 5: 31-32

31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

• Was the ruler willing to swallow his pride and acknowledge he was sick?

God’s Grace and Mercy

• I have sinned thousands of times and do not deserve a relationship with God or eternal life
• God has graciously called me to recognize this fact and has offered me eternal life! I am completely undeserving of this gift
• He calls me to wholeheartedly trust in him for my salvation, follow him, and serve him – he is Lord
• It is not about me – it is about him. He chose to die and take the penalty for our sins in order to reconcile us to him
• How blessed are we that he created us, loves us, and wants us to be in relationship with him!

Living out of the Gospel

• We are thankful and grateful for what God has done for us
• We live and follow God out of our love and thankfulness for his forgiveness, and for taking the penalty for our sins
• We need to remind ourselves of the gospel daily!
• We are not obeying in order to be accepted, we are accepted as we are, therefore we follow Christ out of grateful joy for what he has done!

Are We Ready to Follow Jesus?

• Are hoping our good works and “being a good Christian” merits eternal life?
• Do we see God as just the answer for our immediate problems?
• It is all about him – his glory, his love for us, and his desire for us to be in relationship with him despite us not deserving it!

The Ultimate Decision

• Do we choose to follow Jesus, or reject him either directly or indirectly, by relying on our works or possessions?

He loves us and is wanting us to choose to wholeheartedly love and follow him, instead of pursuing things that will never satisfy