Luke 18:20–23
‘You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
From human perspective, it is a wonderful thing that this rich young man came to find Jesus, and he followed all the commandments. Jesus, however, knew that there was a major hindrance in his heart, which was his wealth, because his wealth has replaced God in his heart. The world today is much the same; no matter rich or poor, everyone is talking about money.
The U.S. bills have printed on them “In God We Trust,” but the truth is that in the real life it’s more like “In Money We Trust.” Money and material things have long replaced God’s place in our heart, and thus our heart has no room for God. Jesus doesn’t want every one of us to sell everything we have, but if we want to seek the true meaning of life, we must first humbly remove the hindrance in our heart. Perhaps your hindrance is not money, but it might be ambition in career, or arrogance in self-righteousness; it could also be problem with pride and rationality. No matter what it is, you need to see that none of these things could bring you true satisfaction.
The Bible says that the world and everything in this world will come to pass, but only God will never change. If you are seeking things of the world, one day you will be disappointed. Believing in Jesus is not only finding a spiritual safe harbor, because even a spiritual safe harbor is self-centered because it doesn’t consider the responsibility and mission that God has given to people. Believing in Jesus is also not finding the “Aladdin’s lamp” for you to get whatever you ask for. Believing in Jesus means to follow Jesus, to have Jesus become the ruler of your life, leading you to walk on the path of life, and to understand His will and plan in your life. We will find the true meaning and goal of life only if we lay down ourselves and joyfully walk in the path of God.
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, I ask that you bless every brother and sister, give them a humble heart to come before you, and to lay down all the hindrances in our life. Let them be willing to honor you and follow you as our Lord in our daily life. Let them be filled with your joy and peace, and to dash forward on your path everyday. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
