Treasure, Part 2
The Rich Young Ruler
13th May 2011
Last week, we looked at:
Matthew 13v44
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then
in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
The Kingdom of God is such great treasure that it's worth giving up everything we have.
We also mentioned the story of the rich young ruler, which we'll look at in more depth this week:
Mark 10v17-22
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he
asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No-one is good - except God alone.
You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,
do not defraud, honour your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus asked the man "why do you call me good? No-one is good - except God alone.". He was leading the man into an understanding that He - Jesus - was God. He then reminded the man of the commandments. The man claimed "all these I have kept since I was a boy". He must have been a very remarkable man if he had indeed kept all the commandments for a period of years. More likely, he was deluded.
Jesus could have rebuked him for his over-estimate of his goodness. He could have lectured hum on Justificaton by Faith, but He looked at him and loved him. And when He sees you and me, with our religious expressions and pious-sounding platitudes, and our judgmentalism towards others, and our failures, He looks at us and loves us.
Because of his great love for this man, Jesus told him "One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Jesus saw into the man's heart. He knew that the lesson taught by the parable of the treasure in the field would be very difficult for him, and He knew that the man had to realise that his wealth was a hindrance that he needed to be free from if he was to follow Jesus.
It was too much of a sacrifice for the young man. the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Money is not evil, but if it comes between us and God, we're better off without it.
All treasure is intrinsically good, but we have to choose between holding on to the idea of treasure that's ours to control and enjoy, and yielding all we have to Jesus, so he can give us the treasure He wants us to have, which is far better.
Jesus said:
Matthew 6v19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do
not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Is our treasure in the bank, or in Jesus Christ?
We do have to choose.
One last word. Treasure need not be financial. Our treasure can be in family, friends, career, even our ministry in church. We must take time periodically to check our hearts, to ensure that we still genuinely acknowledge Jesus as Lord of all we have, and all we are.