What One Must Do

Scripture: Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Matthew 19:16

Observation: This young man asks a basic question, what must one do to gain eternal life. Jesus will provide an answer that is both straightforward and confusing. His answer begins with a subset of the ten commandments - those that primarily deal with behaviors - and the rich young man says he complies with those. We know that's doubtful ... complete and total compliance with the full letter of the law and all its components, including how Jesus has included our thought life into the scenarios, are difficult to fully comply with, and made up for through ritual sacrifice. However, Jesus then tells the man to sell everything, give it to the poor, and thus store up treasures in heaven.

The confusion seems to be in the nature of the actions. First, Jesus skips over the commands associated with God himself ... honoring God, having no other Gods, keeping God's name and Sabbath holy. There seems, therefore, to be a connection between these commands and the second instructions to give all to the poor. Caring for others, especially the poor, is part of how we honor God. This has two components. First, in doing so we care for those whom God loves, and thus become God's partner in loving others. Second, we eliminate our reliance on earthly things and become ourselves dependent on God, leaning into his love for our daily needs, and thus becoming faithful.

And this then is the answer to the question. Jesus summarizes it with the final part of the answer ... "Then come, follow me" ... but the full response is that the good thing we must do is to have faith, and faith that isn't just a thought in our hearts but an actual full-life dependency on God.

Application: I have recently developed much more faith in this area - an actual dependency on God for my very life. This is the gift God gave me through my earthly struggles. He taught me reliance upon him alone for everything from my daily bread, to love from friends and family, to my own mental well being. He taught me that an hour in worship is better than an hour in mindless sports. He taught me that considering his world is far greater than my imagination.

I need to continue this forward. I fully know what I now have is from him and by him alone. I need to continue to give it back to him in my thoughts, word, and deeds. I must empty myself and my reliance on earthly or material things, and know that even when I have and enjoy those things they were in fact a gift from God. And most of all, I must continue daily to both exercise and increase my faith in God and Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, this day I ask for your strength in my life. May I succeed at work by your will and wisdom. May I find ways to give you glory, both internally and externally. To you be all my love, all my faith, and all my life. Amen.