Matthew Chapter 19: Verses 16-22 (NIV- UK)
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’
‘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.’
‘Which ones?’ he enquired.
Jesus replied, ‘“You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honour your father and mother,” and “love your neighbour as yourself.”’
‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’
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.’
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
This young man seems to have been genuinely sincere in trying to find out what he could do to inherit eternal life. He’d done the best that he could but knew that there is still something missing, so he came to Jesus to find out what that was. And Jesus said that the young man had to give up all that he had and follow Him. The young man couldn’t earn eternal life by himself; only by following Jesus.
We may be equally as sincere at living a “good” life, doing our best to be kind and considerate to others and trying to do what’s right. But that isn’t enough. The rich young man realised that there was still something missing in his life and that’s why he came to Jesus. We can’t inherit eternal life in our own strength either, no matter how “good” we are. Eternal life comes from following Jesus and doing as He asks, even if that means giving up the things that are important to us. As long as we are willing, He will help us to do so through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord,
I recognise that I can’t earn eternal life. It’s a free gift bought by Jesus through the cross. Help me to follow Your ways and Your instruction without striving to do things by myself. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.