We live in a day in which our sense of worth most often comes from what we do, what we possess, how others see us, or what we have achieved. Recently my pastor reminded us that even the games we play reinforce that belief. The winner of the board game of “Life” is the one who amasses the most possessions before arriving at “Millionaire Acres.” As a matter of fact, that’s true of most of the games we play. We win by defeating others, by coming out on top, by amassing the most points or objects. All too often, we are so driven by our misguided sense of worth that we are willing to win at any cost.
Our misguided sense of worth isn’t a new thing; it dates back to the days of Adam and Eve. They bought a lie, and then their son Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. We’ve been buying the lie and comparing ourselves to others ever since.
As we read through the Gospels, we find that there were many who even followed Jesus for all the wrong reasons. They wanted to have more and be more. They followed Him, seeking what He could do for them – a miracle, a meal, riches, or perhaps even a position in His kingdom. Sadly, most would eventually turn away from Him – rejecting His teachings … and most importantly, rejecting Him.
Some simply sought justification for their own behavior and their own actions. They wanted Jesus to validate their outward appearance of godliness, when in reality they were driven by selfish ambition. Such was the case of a certain young man … and perhaps such is the case with many of us today.
One day as Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and His appointment with the cross, a man came running up to Him. This encounter was recorded by three of the Gospel-writers – Matthew (19:16-22), Mark (10:17-22) and Luke (18:18-23). Matthew tells us that he was a young man. Luke tells us that he was a religious leader, in a position of authority. All three writers tell us that he was very wealthy, having many possessions. From all outward appearance, he had everything going for him.
Mark tells us that as he approached Jesus, he took on a posture of reverence. Unlike most of the religious leaders who questioned Jesus, this young man did not appear to have a deceptive purpose. He didn’t show any sign that he was trying to “entrap” Jesus with his question. In many respects, he outwardly appeared to be seeking Jesus in an attitude similar to that of Nicodemus. He was a student of the Law – very likely a teacher himself. Along the way, through what he had heard or witnessed firsthand, he had come to view Jesus as one who taught with authority. So he approached with a sincere question – “what must I do (or what good deed must I do) to inherit eternal life?” What must I do to be worthy? What must I do to achieve ultimate success?
In all three accounts, he addressed Jesus as “Good Teacher”. For the young man, it was a title of respect. It was probably a title he had used on multiple occasions in his past to address mentors and teachers that he respected.
All three accounts, record the same response from Jesus: “Why do you call Me good? Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments….” Jesus’ first statement (“Why do you call Me good? Only God is truly good.”) was NOT a side comment before He gave the man His answer (“But to answer your question, you know the commandments….”). Rather, His first statement, in many respects, WAS the answer.
Jesus specifically lists these commandments in His answer to the young man:
You must not murder,
You must not commit adultery,
You must not steal,
You must not testify falsely,
You must not cheat anyone, and
Honor your father and mother.
The young man replied that he had obeyed all of these commandments since his youth. He had the view – just like so many of us do today – that he could do something to merit eternal life, and achieve the ultimate worth and purpose. But if we compare this list to the complete list of the ten commandments as recorded in Exodus (20:1-17), we find that these are the fifth through tenth commandments. This grouping speaks to how we relate to others around us. The first four commandments, on the other hand, speak to how we relate to God. A few days after this encounter, following Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, another religious leader (in an attempt to entrap Him) approached Jesus to ask Him what the most important commandment is. Jesus answered him saying, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”(1) On this occasion, when Jesus said to the rich young man that “only God is truly good”, He was pointing him back to that very same first commandment. He was pointing Him to the One – and only One – through whom eternal life, worth and purpose can be achieved. It cannot be achieved by what we have done (or not done) for ourselves … or others; it only occurs through a relationship with our Creator.
And the true test of this young man’s relationship with God was to be seen in how he responded to Jesus’ statement: “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” The issue was not the young man’s riches; the issue was that he valued his riches over a relationship with God. And he did not see himself as a condemned sinner before a holy God. He thought his superficial good works would merit favor with God.
And that is where many of us stumble. We value riches, or possessions, or position, or other relationships over a relationship with God. John, in his Gospel writes that “God so loved the world….”(2) Mark tells us that “Jesus felt genuine love”(3) for this man. The Father and the Son have first loved us(4) … even when we are at our worst.
But when we refuse to love Him with our whole heart, soul and mind – when we refuse to surrender everything else in our lives to Him – we too walk away sad – we too walk away empty – we too walk away incomplete and unfulfilled – just like the rich young ruler. No matter what else he possessed, there was a void in his life that would never be filled apart from one thing – a loving relationship with his heavenly Father. But notice – Jesus didn’t plead with him. He spoke truth in love. Then it was up to the young man to decide.
That is true for each one of us. We will never find our true worth or purpose apart from Him. No matter what else we may possess, there will be a void in our lives that can never be filled apart from one thing – a loving relationship with our heavenly Father. And Jesus won’t plead with us either. He has spoken His truth to us in love. Now it is up to each of us to decide … how we will continue … in this “game” of life.
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(1) Matthew 22:36-37
(2) John 3:16
(3) Mark 10:21
(4) 1 John 4:19
Adapted from Walking With The Master, Ch. 60
Image from “The Game of Life” by Hasbro