13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
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.
Kurt Holm
The Creek, A Covenant Church – Pleasant Hill CA
Observation: Obeying Jesus’ words bring life. Yet this rich man “obeyed” his position of wealth, and went away sad. People, all people, give their hearts to something, the question is, to whom or what? The call to obey is actually a grace from Jesus rescuing ourselves from ourselves.
Action: Today I am choosing to obey Jesus. I confess, I often find myself obeying my desire for personal recognition, selfish pleasures and financial security. I need to be rescued from obeying what will never give me life. I am convinced that the call to obey Jesus protects me from pursing life where it will never be found. Jesus’ call to obey is my rescuing grace. I will be attentive today for the opportunity of giving someone my time, my energy and even my money. Jesus, thank you for calling me to something vastly bigger than myself.
Observation: Jesus welcomed little children because the Kingdom belongs to them.
Action: I have not wanted to welcome little children (humble, simple people). I have wanted to welcome scholars and doctors and popular preachers. I have thought that the Kingdom belonged to them, that they were real Kingdom people and by associating with them I would really be getting into the Kingdom. I see now how untrue and empty this is. I will stop looking for opportunities to welcome these people and will start looking for opportunities to welcome little children.
Jesus’ response to the rich young man is a challenge to the man’s claim that he had kept the whole law. Somehow the phrase “love your neighbor” always resurfaces with Jesus’ teachings. The richer you are the more you are removed from the poor. The better you are doing, the more removed you are from those who are struggling. When you are disconnected, you tend to make up ideas about others: “They must be lazy, they must be sinners, they must be drug addicts, God must be punishing them for something.”
That is definitely not loving your neighbor. In giving up his wealth the young man would become like “those people.” He left sad because not only had he not justified and made himself look exceptionally good to Jesus, but he realized he had not kept the law as well as he thought.
Application:
Some times it takes courage to move past your perceptions and truly love your neighbor. This is a lesson that I’ve been learning over the last couple years. I’ve had my perceptions of certain groups of people challenged, because I was forced into a position where I had to walk in their shoes. This makes me realize in how many areas my “holiness” was and is getting in the way of me building community, and do what Jesus did, and called us to do as well.
observation: the children wanted to come to Jesus. Jesus you said, let them come. They did, you placed your hands on them, they received. the grown up came and essentially said, what do I need to do to get God’s hand on me? (since it clearly is already.) The children just came and freely received. The adult wanted to do something to get the life.
action: today i will be like a child and come and receive. I will just receive i will not think there is something i must do to have your blessing. I don’t want to leave before you place your hand on me!
Observation: We are a ‘What must I do?’ culture. To be something you must do something. Jesus’ message today is simply to receive.
Action: Take time to just receive. Whatever God’s word has for me over the next couple days, I’m not going to do anything about it. Just receive whatever He has to offer.
Observation: The rich man thought he was good to go because he had kept the commandments. He thought he had “arrived” because he had kept them since he was young. But Jesus takes it further and says, “Keeping the commandments is a great start, but it is just that, the start. I have more for you.” The rich man thought the commandments were the destination and Jesus reminds us that they are actually the starting point.
Action: God help me live beyond the “basics” of faith. Help me walk into deep waters and unforeseen places towards which you lead me.
This guy could have been one of the twelve. He didn’t realize it, of course, but he traded a place in history (not to mention eternity) for a life of ease. Most people would make that same choice today.
I’m reminded that all the “stuff” I think I need is just excess baggage when I’m following Jesus.
Lord, show me today where you want me to follow. I am ready.
love that “miss” Chuck. very true. i could be one of the “12” too.
Observation: Jesus, you said, “give the kids the kingdom” – both in the children coming to you and your instruction to give away your things to the poor (like children).
Action: Tonight we will host 65 foster kids again. I’m going to remind the Fostering Hope family that they are doing just this: Giving Your love/kingdom to these amazing little ones.