Well, Hoop te doo!
In Matthew 19 there is a story of a man who came to Jesus and asked Jesus, “what must I do to have eternal life?
Jesus responded in vs. 17, “keep the commandments.”
The man then responded, “which ones?”
Jesus then quoted six of the ten commandments. Wonder why only six? The man then said in vs. “all these things have I kept from my youth up…”
If I was Jesus I would have said, “Well, hoop- te- do for you.” But in love, Jesus responds to the real issue. “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give it to the poor.”
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus did not quote some of the other commandments like: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Or thou shalt not make unto thee any grave image.
When Jesus told this man to sell all that he had, give it to the poor and follow Jesus, Jesus was addressing this man’s real god and the image he worshipped more that God: his money and possessions.
This man trusted in his riches more than he trusted God for his provision. Sadly, this man walked away.
Matthew 19: 22 “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”
Jesus knew where this man’s heart really was. This young man obeyed what he determined was important to him and not God.
Churches like ours are referred to as Word Churches because we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, His will for our lives. We believe we need to accept the Word of God as truth. However, there are some people who I refer to as convenient word people. They pick and choose what they accept as truth and discard the things they won’t agree with or refuse to obey.
This must have been the case with this young man. It is so easy to rationalize your way out of obeying all the Word of God. Hear and obey the whole Word of God even if it is inconvenient and you will be blessed.
- Pastor Jim
Jesus responded in vs. 17, “keep the commandments.”
The man then responded, “which ones?”
Jesus then quoted six of the ten commandments. Wonder why only six? The man then said in vs. “all these things have I kept from my youth up…”
If I was Jesus I would have said, “Well, hoop- te- do for you.” But in love, Jesus responds to the real issue. “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give it to the poor.”
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus did not quote some of the other commandments like: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Or thou shalt not make unto thee any grave image.
When Jesus told this man to sell all that he had, give it to the poor and follow Jesus, Jesus was addressing this man’s real god and the image he worshipped more that God: his money and possessions.
This man trusted in his riches more than he trusted God for his provision. Sadly, this man walked away.
Matthew 19: 22 “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”
Jesus knew where this man’s heart really was. This young man obeyed what he determined was important to him and not God.
Churches like ours are referred to as Word Churches because we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, His will for our lives. We believe we need to accept the Word of God as truth. However, there are some people who I refer to as convenient word people. They pick and choose what they accept as truth and discard the things they won’t agree with or refuse to obey.
This must have been the case with this young man. It is so easy to rationalize your way out of obeying all the Word of God. Hear and obey the whole Word of God even if it is inconvenient and you will be blessed.
- Pastor Jim
Posted in Blog, Life According to God
Tagged with Provision, Trusting God, Obedience, Salvation, Idolitry, Worship
Tagged with Provision, Trusting God, Obedience, Salvation, Idolitry, Worship
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