To attempt to provide an answer to the question posed, we must look at the Scripture as a whole to understand its context (Luke 18:18-30). In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is speaking to a rich young man.
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, 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: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:18-22).
The record of the rich youthful ruler is likewise given in Matthew 19:16-30 and in Mark 10:17-31. This young religious leader looked for consolation, some approach to knowing without a doubt that he had everlasting life.
He needed Jesus to gauge and grade his capabilities, or to give him some errand that he could do to guarantee his own eternality. So, Jesus gave him an assignment, the one thing that the religious leader felt that he was unable to do.
“Who then can be saved?” the spectators inquired. At the point when Jesus replied, he inferred that nobody can be saved by his own accomplishments, yet only God can do what man cannot do. No one can earn salvation. It is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-10).
God Is Good
The rich man called Jesus “Good Master.” Because of this, Jesus' inquiry to the ruler was generally, “Do you have any idea who I am?” Without a doubt, the man did not understand the ramifications of Jesus' answer, that the man was correct in calling him good since Jesus is genuinely God.
This young person needed to be certain that he would obtain everlasting life, so he asked Jesus what it was that he could do. He said that he had not even once violated any of the laws that Jesus referenced, and maybe he had kept the Pharisees' escape clause filled.
To this man looking for confirmation of everlasting life, Jesus called attention to the fact that salvation does not come from great deeds unaccompanied by the adoration for God. The man required a different beginning stage.
Rather than adding one more precept to keep or a decent deed to perform, he needed to submit unassumingly to the lordship of Christ.
This present man's abundance smoothed his life and gave him importance and power. At the point when Jesus advised him to sell all that he possessed, he was contacting the man's very reason for distinctiveness and refuge.
The man did not comprehend that he would be significantly safer assuming he followed Jesus than he was with his riches. This showed the man's shortcoming.
In essence, his abundance was his god. His wealth had become his graven image, and he would not surrender it. Along these lines, he abused the first and most noteworthy of the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 22:36-40).
Unexpectedly, the man's demeanor made him incapable to keep the first commandment. He was unable to meet the one prerequisite that Jesus gave, to give his entire heart and life to God. The man came to Jesus asking what it was that he could do, yet he left seeing what it was that he could not do.
Jesus does not request that all Christians sell all that they have, albeit this might be his will for certain individuals. In any case, he requests that all of us dispose of whatever has become more vital to us than God.
Assuming our reason for security has moved from God to that of what we own, it would be better for us to dispose of those belongings.
Where Your Treasure Is
Since being rich addresses influence, authority, and achievement, it is frequently hard for affluent individuals to understand their need and frailty to save themselves.
Those who are wealthy in ability and knowledge experience similar troubles. Except if God ventures down into their lives, they will not come to him.
Jesus astounded a portion of his audience members by offering salvation to the poor; he might astonish certain individuals today by offering it to those who are rich. It is hard for an independent individual to understand his need to come to Jesus.
Since it is beyond the realm of possibilities for a camel to go through the opening of a needle, it seems incomprehensible for a rich man to get into paradise. Nonetheless, Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).
Indeed, even rich people can enter the Kingdom of God assuming God lets them in. Faith and confidence in God, not in self or wealth, is what counts. On what are we, or have we, relied on for salvation?
Peter and the other followers had addressed a significant expense to follow Jesus by leaving their homes and occupations. In any case, Jesus reminded Peter that following him has its advantages just as it has its penances.
In the Bible, God presents recompense to Christians as indicated by his justice. In the Old Testament, submissive obedience regularly acquired compensation in this life (Deuteronomy 28), however, compliance and prompt award are not connected all the time.
Assuming they were, individuals that were good people would forever be rich, and any suffering that they may face would forever be an indication of transgression. As Christians, our actual award is the presence of God and the Holy Spirit’s power.
Later on, during the forever, we will be compensated for our Christian service and faith. In the event that material awards in this life came to us for each steadfast deed, we would be enticed to gloat about our accomplishments and soil our intentions.
Why Does This Matter?
The disciples had started to address the cost of following Jesus, and Jesus said that they would be compensated.
We ought not to harp on what we have surrendered. We should contemplate what we have acquired and offer gratitude to God for it. There is no way that we can outgive God.
In the time to come, the principles and ethics of this world will be switched. The people who look for status and significance here will have none in paradise. The people who are modest here will be esteemed in heaven.
The bad state of our general public empowers disarray in values. We are besieged by messages that let us know how to be significant and feel better, and Jesus' instructing on help to others appears to be foreign. However, the individuals who have submissively served others are more fit to be gifted in paradise.
For further reading:
Why Was Jesus Called the Good Shepherd?
What Does it Mean ‘Where Your Treasure Is There Your Heart Is Also’?
What Does it Mean God Is Good?
What Does it Mean to Deny Myself and Take Up My Cross Daily?
What Is the Gospel and Why Is it Good News?
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