By Janean
“What lack I yet?” This was a phrase from scripture that was from the lesson for our children’s program on Wednesday night. The lesson was based on “The Rich Young Ruler” in Matthew 19:16-26. To paraphrase these verses, we see a wealthy young man who comes to Jesus asking how he can obtain eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the ten commandments, but He only mentions the six that pertain to our relationship with other people. The rich young man says that he has kept all these things since he was a child but asks what he still lacks?
One of the things that struck me after looking at this passage again is the obvious picture that this man feels that something is missing in his life. He has wealth, he has everything that money can buy, but something in him feels empty. We all have a Christ shape void in our lives. We try to fill it with things that we think would make us feel better, make us feel whole and complete. Some fillers may be reaching a higher position at our job, getting married, having children, wearing make-up, saving as much money as we possibly can, a fancy car… the list could go on and on.
This young man goes to the right Person to find his answer, but he doesn’t like the response that Jesus gives. Jesus tells him in verse 21 that, “…if you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” Jesus tells this rich man to give up what he holds most dear to his heart, his wealth, give it away, and then follow Christ with his life. This was too much for the young ruler to accept as we see in the next verse, “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” (V. 22)
So often in life, God asks us to give up what we hold most dear. He already knows our hearts and sees what our response will be. But He still gives us the challenge, I think to prove to ourselves where we stand with God. I am reminded of a time that I was unsure of where my relationship was with God. I knew I was saved, but I didn’t know how strong my walk was with my heavenly Father. One day after my devotions, I prayed and asked God to show me how close I was to Him. Shortly after that, in 2009, we had a house fire. The insurance said that it was a complete loss. We did try to salvage what we could, but we lost most of our earthly possessions. What I learned from that experience was that those possessions were all material things, they could be replaced. With that trial, it proved to us that our treasure was not in our things, but living for the Lord.
Fifteen years later, God again challenged us to give up something that we hold dear. But this time it was with something that could never be replaced. Our daughter. God could see in our hearts, our willingness to hand over Hannah, and continue to follow Him. I do believe that He did that to show us where we are with Him. He knew it was going to be painful, and with our weak human state, there was a chance that we may walk away just like this rich young ruler.
Looking at a well-known hymn written by George Bennard in 1912, it talks about exchanging earthly trials and gains for a heavenly reward. The eye may not respond positively to an ugly rough looking cross. But as a person’s heart understands what the cross represents: the suffering and shame, the cost of life that was taken on it, their desire to fill that empty space in their life would be willing to give up what they hold dear to follow the One who gave so much for them.
The Old Rugged Cross
1 On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
2 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
3 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
4 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
We are blessed.
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