Christian Living

A LOOK AT THE RICH YOUNG RULER

by paul hoffmaster
02/04/18
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A ruler came to Jesus one day and inquired how he could have eternal life.  He was rich and probably had no want for materialistic things, yet there was something missing in his life.  (Today, it seems we have reversed the requests from spiritual matters to desiring how we can attain riches.)  When the ruler came to Jesus, it was as if he was coming to a teacher of the Law, or to one with respected religious knowledge.  He expected to hear things he needed to do to achieve eternal life.  Staying with the Jewish tradition of works as the doorway to eternal life, he was ready to hear what he was supposed to do.  Jesus responded on the level that the ruler was operating on, and told him to keep the commandments.  The young man wanted specifics so he asked Jesus, “Which ones?” Jesus then shared six of the Ten Commandments.  The six He shared were requirements of works.  The ruler claimed he had done all of those since his youth, so what was missing?  Jesus told him to sell what he had and give the proceeds to the poor and by doing that he would have Heavenly wealth.  Jesus was implying that when he would part with his materialistic goods, he would have to trust and have faith in Him to supply his needs. (We still have not learned that lesson today.) 

  If the young ruler was really serious he would “come and follow” Him.  The ruler rejected what Jesus told him because he had too many possessions. (Matthew 19:16 -22)  The young man was unable to see that it would not be by works that eternal life is achieved, but by a “new and living way” which Jesus would offer through faith.

 Today, people are confusing works and faith as a prerequisite to obtaining eternal life.  Some believe that displaying attributes of compassion and doing to others as they would want done to them evidences spiritual character and, as a result, eternal life awaits them.  Some believe that if they don’t smoke, chew, drink, or swear, and do go to church regularly that they have their ticket already punched for Heaven.  I met a young man who believed that attending mass regularly was all that God required of him.  I asked him what would happen if he didn’t go regularly, and without blinking he stated he would not go to Heaven.  Obviously, that is an extreme belief, but it centers on misconceptions of what constitutes eternal life.  Going to church regularly, reading the Bible, helping one another, being generous, not gossiping, and just being a well rounded individual does not guarantee eternal life.  What these things do is to help us have an abundant and full life, but they are not the determining factors in whether or not we will have eternal life! 

 Jesus was showing the young ruler that works would not bring him to the reality of eternal life.     Once we understand faith, we will exhibit it through our works.  Living by faith identifies the Grace of God.   Eternal Life is offered through the shed blood of Jesus.  It is exciting to know that by our acceptance of Him, we have an eternal place when our heart stops beating.  Until that time, let us enjoy the life that God has set before us.  By our works our faith is evidenced. 

 When the Apostles saw the rich ruler walk away broken hearted, they became confused as to who could have eternal life.  They believed works was what opened the gates to Heaven, and if a rich man could not make it, who could?  Jesus simply stated that it all rested with God.

 Let us understand that works does not produce faith; rather, faith produces works.  The Jewish people believed works was the way to Heaven, but Jesus came to change their thinking.  He was exchanging the old wine skins for the new.  May God grant us understanding as to the intent of His Word!