Daily Worship

The rich young man’s response

October 13, 2012 0 0

Matthew 19:16-22

​Once a man came to Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me concerning what is good?” answered Jesus. “There is only One who is good. Keep the commandments if you want to enter life.”

“What commandments?” he asked.

Jesus answered, “Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

“I have obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else do I need to do?”

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich.

​God calls people at various times to different tasks. Our response depends on many things: personal circumstances, personality, our sense of self and our readiness to be disturbed in our settled ways. Throughout this week we will follow people in the Bible whom God called. Their response may encourage us to revisit our own promise to God.

Generous God, you know how I love the things I own. And I know that they sometimes keep me from you and from other people. 

Give me wisdom to live in a material world.

 

written by Rolf Billes