The Burden of Wealth
TRANSLATION
(15) People were bringing babies to Jesus so that he might place his hands on them (for blessing). When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. (16) But Jesus called them to him saying, “Allow the children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God. (17) Truly I tell you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
(18) A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (19) And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. (20) You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.” (21) And he said, “All these things have I obeyed since I was a youth.” (22) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Go and sell all that you have, distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (23) But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was quite wealthy. (24) And Jesus looking at him said, “How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God! (25) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter the Kingdom of God.” (26) Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” (27) Jesus replied, “What is humanly impossible is possible with God.” (28) And Peter said, “Look, we have left everything to follow you.” (29) Then Jesus said to them, “Truly, I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God (30) who will not receive many times more in this age and eternal life in the age to come.”
OBSERVATIONS
Luke’s account of Jesus’ conversation with the rich young ruler began with a discussion Jesus had with his disciples about allowing children to come into his presence while he was ministering. His two startling statements, that the Kingdom of God belongs to children (vs. 16) and that we cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless we receive it as children (vs. 17), led to the young man’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life” (vs. 18)?
The fivefold repetition of the phrase, “Kingdom of God” (vss. 16, 17, 24, 25, & 29) along with the threefold use of “enter” (vss. 17, 24, & 25) and the double occurrence of “eternal life” (vss. 18 & 30) all make the focus of this passage quite clear. The rich young ruler wanted Jesus to endorse his lifestyle based on the commonly held view that by keeping the commandments we can earn God’s approval and inherit eternal life. Jesus’ response, “Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and come follow me,” deeply disappointed him. Note that the ruler’s sadness (vs. 23) was due to the fact that he proudly refused to release the only thing that was preventing him from entering the Kingdom of God, the earthly treasures he valued so highly.
In the closing verses of the segment, Luke made it clear that those who enter the Kingdom can only do so by grace and not by their own efforts. Not until we disentangle ourselves from whatever is preventing us from following Jesus as his disciples will we be rewarded with life eternal.
OUTLINE
I. Introduction: the Kingdom is only for those with childlike faith. (15-17)
II. Q & A: the Kingdom is only for those who are willing to give up everything to follow Jesus. (18-25)
III. Conclusion: only those who forsake everything reap the reward of eternal life. (26-30)
IDEA STATEMENT
We can enter the Kingdom of God only when we learn to follow Jesus with childlike faith.
APPLICATION
The author of 2 Kings recounted the story of Naaman who commanded the armies of Syria. He was a man grievously afflicted with the wasting disease of leprosy despite his impressive status and achievements. His wife’s servant girl, an Israelite who had been captured and enslaved in a previous deportation, told her mistress about the ability of Elisha, Israel’s prophet, to heal diseases. Desperate for a cure, General Naaman left his home and journeyed to find Elisha, carrying along expensive gifts for the prophet. At first, he was offended when Elisha, after refusing to meet him and refusing his gifts, sent a messenger with the instruction that he should wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. With his pride wounded by this abrupt response, Naaman decided to head home without trying Elisha’s remedy. Only when his servants prevailed on him to give the prophet’s instructions a try did he finally humble himself and do what had been prescribed. At the moment of his seventh immersion in the river he was miraculously healed. From then on Naaman forsook his idolatry and walked by faith with Yahweh, Israel’s all-powerful God.
Just as Naaman, a powerful and highly regarded military leader, struggled with pride when told to wash in the Jordan, so did the rich young ruler struggle with Jesus’ instruction to divest himself of his wealth and become one of his disciples. It is only when we give up our self-sufficiency and humbly submit to God’s ways that we will receive the blessings which he has promised us. To children, such dependence on those who lovingly care for them comes naturally. When will we learn to entrust ourselves fully to our heavenly Father as his beloved children and stop relying in our own resources?