Daily Devotional for Thursday, April 16
Jesus Speaks Concerning Riches
“Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me,” Luke 18:22.
A ruler approached Jesus with “Good Master,” [or Teacher] what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (verse 18). Jesus asked why he called Him good. “Good” is reserved for God alone. This was just a short aside, but Jesus was making a point. Why were rabbis good? Jesus had just taught about status, and here was another clue their society, at their leaders’ encouragement, had elevated their teachers to the status of being good. “Good” fits Jesus as the Son of God, but its commonality was offensive. Jesus moved on with the topic at hand, but even His side comment taught a lesson.
Jesus listed five of the Ten Commandments to which the ruler responded that he had kept them all since youth. Sometimes we hear preachers say, “You have got to get them lost before you can get them saved.” Realizing sin is a major component in confessing it!
In 2005, we took our teens to New York City to serve at Billy Graham’s last crusade. We learned evangelism techniques each morning, hit the streets of NYC to share the gospel, and served as counselors during the crusade. It was incredible! We encountered quite a variety of folks on the streets, in shops, in the subway and on buses, but the most memorable was Chase’s encounter with Robert. As Chase talked about Jesus forgiving sin, Robert replied he had never sinned. Chase gave a few examples, but Robert continued to claim he was not a sinner. He refused the message of the gospel because he did not see his need.
With the ruler, Jesus struck the one area that would break him—his riches. Jesus wanted him to set his treasure in heavenly endeavors, but he went away sad because he saw it as a loss. His riches tethered him to this earth.
THOUGHT
“We are to sit loose to [riches] and lay them at the feet of Him who gave them.”
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown)
Kelli Reynolds