The Rich Young Man



As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?



“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”



“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”



Jesus, looking at him, loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”



At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

After I get some input on this. I will tell you what I think......

To me: you have to be willing to give up everything for God. If you are unwilling to give your things away for God...then you are not following or love God..you are loving your possessions. We should only love God..not our stuff. We should love God more than our stuff, our husbands, wives, children, friends etc.

Well I am screwed.While I think it is good to help others,I can love nothing more than my wife and kids.
I don`t think this passage means to give all you have,you still have to eat.I think that having more than we need and keeping it is when we go wrong.I also think this points to capitalism and christianity just do not jive.Kida like the mess we have now with our God talks to me president.All I know for sure is I have never meet a priest or preacher that didn`t think he needs your money more than you.

I dont think god wants us to give evryhting up. he wants us to be willing to and trust in him to take care of us.some people value things and people more than god. he wants you to love him enough to be willing to forake everything for him. this is my take on it.

I whole heartedly know where you are going with this and I agree ( i think). I feel this way a lot of times. Its something I struggle with. Its very difficult to put it into words... I think it requires a leap of faith. As people we fear... we fear loss, the fear of someone taking something from us. Not realizing that we "have" nothing. Everything is a gift. A gift from God. Sometimes Im not too sure how well Christianity and capitalism mesh. The way things are now, there is this idea that as long as I have mine, its someone elses fault that they didnt get theres. Oh we may take care of them a little bit and help, but would we do without so others could have? The complaints of immigrants taking over, the idea that the liberal/conservatives are taking over... NONE of this is ours to keep. Its such a radical idea its hard to wrap your head around it, but short of someone threatening my family or friends...and then Im still not sure if its right, but I couldnt take someones life over something materialistic. Its notworth it. Jesus wouldnt. But we fear losing control. We fear others taking what we feel is "ours". There is a lot of freedom in living without fear of loss, I do know that. Sometimes I question if Christians had strictly followed the teaching of Jesus, to just give it away, not fear loss, would Christianity have been wiped out or would we all be alot better.

Im curious to see what people say about this...

Like I said its a hard idea to wrap your head around... but in all honesty that verse does sum up what Jesus was saying.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: abefroeman,

The words and intent of Jesus are very clear. I'm amazed watching others try to rationalize it away.....

care to explain...?

quote:

Originally posted by zzt:
The Rich Young Man



As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?



“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”



“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”



Jesus, looking at him, loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”



At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

Christ was teaching that man's problem was his heart. The young rich man treasured his material possessions more than the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be

Of course, Jesus knew that there was nothing man could do to inherit the kingdom of God. He Himself would reconcile man through His work at the cross.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LD,

There is your rationalized explaination...

quote:

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

I dont see these admonitions from Jesus as subject to much interpretation or simply to be rationalized to not apply to all, not just this man.

quote:

Originally posted by Zarathustras Voice:
There is your rationalized explaination...

That's my brief interpretation. What is yours?

quote:

Originally posted by Zarathustras Voice:

quote:

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

I dont see these admonitions from Jesus as subject to much interpretation or simply to be rationalized to not apply to all, not just this man.

Christ was teaching a spiritual truth.

Christ mostly used parables, hyperbole, typology, metaphors, and other linguistic methods to reveal spiritual truths.

Of course Christ used this passage in speaking to the young ruler to speak to all. He knew His time on earth was short, and he didn't mince words.

We can all learn from it as Christ intended. But, we when say we are willing to give all, we'd better mean it. That isn't to say that GOD will wipe our plate clean just to see what we will do. But I do know that He does look at our hearts and the intent w/in.

I believe the young ruler truly meant what he said simply because he was caught up in the moment. But when it came time to get down and get real, he realized that's not what he truly wanted. Sadly, he walked away knowing his heart wasn't right before the Lord. And THAT, is what it's all about. Having a clean and sincere heart before the Lord.

quote:

Originally posted by Zarathustras Voice:

quote:

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

I dont see these admonitions from Jesus as subject to much interpretation or simply to be rationalized to not apply to all, not just this man.

quote:

The rest of the story:
. . . Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

What is your interpretation of the whole of Jesus’s message in context Zarathustras?