Spiritual connection is important
Scripture reading: Mark 10:17-22. Text: “‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'” Mark 10:17/b.
May this vital question challenge our thinking and may Jesus’ answer to it lead us to the right conclusion.
THE WELL-CAMOUFLAGED THOUGHTS BEHIND THE NICELY EXPRESSED WORDS.
You don’t have to be a psychologist to uncover the hidden thoughts of the rich young ruler. Knowing the circumstances, as much as the Bible reveals, the following basic motives shine through this curious, uncertain, and inquisitive man’s words and actions:
– “‘Good Teacher, what must I do . . .'” According to the unwritten law of etiquette, a compliment or kindness should be reciprocated. I believe this young man was sure that his flattering address of “‘Good Teacher'” would be reciprocated with a similar compliment. I believe he was certain that his politeness would oblige Jesus to talk to him in an appreciative way.
– This wealthy young man wanted complete security. He knew that wealth, fame, and youth cannot be ours forever so on top of what he had already possessed he wanted to secure his eternal life. He wanted to be certain that he did the right thing so he had turned to the most knowledgeable person: Jesus Christ.
– He was self-confident also because he wanted to achieve his salvation through his own actions: “‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'” He thought all that he needed was to follow some good advice and he could take care of his own spiritual needs.
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION PUT THE “CROSS” ON THIS YOUNG MAN.
Doctors run tests on patients and through the positive or negative results of the tests they diagnose the illness of the patient; likewise Jesus’ “psychoanalysis” disclosed what the matter with this young man was really: “‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'” Matthew 6:21. Perhaps the conversation between Jesus and this rich man had been longer than recorded in the Gospels. After being exposed, that is diagnosed, “his countenance fell and he went away sorrowful” (from the 22nd verse).
THAT WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN JESUS AND THIS YOUNG MAN HAS BEEN REPEATED TIME AND AGAIN.
We can be sure that God is still running tests on His children, Hebrews 12:6, probably in a more subtle and refined way, as He is questioning, evaluating, and examining us. And it is also certain that we too reveal our hidden motives, and our true selves will be exposed. How would Jesus put His healing hand on our painful wounds and what would be His words of advice concerning us? We can assume He would say:
– You don’t speak about it but you do spell it out with your actions; something essential is missing from your life! You are constantly running, searching acquiring, accumulating, improving . . . yet nothing satisfies you! What would make you ultimately happy?
– You try to obtain this vital missing part with the help of what you already have. Your self-confidence, great achievements, educated mind, and sophisticated philosophy dim your vision.
– You are not too eager to worship a questioning and correcting God.
In each of us there is a little part of the rich young ruler; that is we may turn to God with our false conviction but we leave with disappointment if we are corrected. Our Savior told the rich young ruler: “‘. . . You lack one thing . . .'” (from the 21st verse). May we ask our heavenly Father to not only let us know what we lack but also may we allow Him to help us to correct it.