Have you ever been at a auction? Objects of great value are brought out and a challenged is issued to see what are people willing to give for the item.

One day a wealthy young man approached Jesus with a question: “good master what do I need to do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answer is very interesting and worth consider:

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’*”

“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus first answers with a question: “Why do you call me good? Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. ”  With it Jesus is asking him “who do you say I am?” “are you acknowledging that I am God?”

Then Jesus knew that he was a very devout religious guy. We know that from the guy’s answer: “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

And you got to love what’s happens next:  ”Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.” Awesome! Jesus, looking at his heart, tells him that one thing he lacks, he needs to sell everything and give it to the poor, then he can follow Jesus.

Now Jesus is not advocating that we do not posses things, but that were our heart is our treasures are. We are then told that they guy left sad because he had many possessions.

There is a cost to be a follower of Christ. It is not a club or spa that we are joining. It is not something we inherit from our parents, nor we get it as part of a cultural heritage. It is a willful decision we make after we understand the cost.

Are you going to be the man or woman that has everything but has nothing?

 

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