Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me (Mark 10:21).
Just think what this young man had--youth, money, popularity, the special love of Christ. He was religious, he was moral. He was athletic, for he ran to Jesus. Yet he lacked one ting--the worship of the true God. He had an idol--his possessions.
Our Savior told him that if he would enter into life, he must keep the commandments (Matt. 19:17), and He quoted from the second table of the law, our duty to others. When He suggested that His inquirer sell all that he had and give to the poor, the young man went away "very sorrowful: for he was very rich" (Luke 18:23). He wouldn't make a sacrifice. He wouldn't give up his false god.
What a great worker for God this young man would have made with his talents and possessions. How much he could have done for the infant church and for the struggling cause of the gospel.
Bernard Palissy, who lived in the sixteenth century, experimented to recover the lost art of porcelain enamel, and in so doing was reduced to great financial distress. The world laughed at him, but at last he was certain that he had discovered the right formula. According to legend, he needed only a small piece of gold to mix with the other ingredients. But he was poor and had no gold. At last his wife came to his help, and by a beautiful act of loyalty an sacrifice showed that she believed in him. She took off her wedding ring and dropped it into the crucible. That was all that was needed to attain perfect success.
So our Savior asks us to sacrifice ourselves to Him and for Him, but many find it hard to do. Yet those who sacrifice what they treasure most will find that their loss is gain and that life therefore is forever glorified.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good" (Ps. 54:6).
Just think what this young man had--youth, money, popularity, the special love of Christ. He was religious, he was moral. He was athletic, for he ran to Jesus. Yet he lacked one ting--the worship of the true God. He had an idol--his possessions.
Our Savior told him that if he would enter into life, he must keep the commandments (Matt. 19:17), and He quoted from the second table of the law, our duty to others. When He suggested that His inquirer sell all that he had and give to the poor, the young man went away "very sorrowful: for he was very rich" (Luke 18:23). He wouldn't make a sacrifice. He wouldn't give up his false god.
What a great worker for God this young man would have made with his talents and possessions. How much he could have done for the infant church and for the struggling cause of the gospel.
Bernard Palissy, who lived in the sixteenth century, experimented to recover the lost art of porcelain enamel, and in so doing was reduced to great financial distress. The world laughed at him, but at last he was certain that he had discovered the right formula. According to legend, he needed only a small piece of gold to mix with the other ingredients. But he was poor and had no gold. At last his wife came to his help, and by a beautiful act of loyalty an sacrifice showed that she believed in him. She took off her wedding ring and dropped it into the crucible. That was all that was needed to attain perfect success.
So our Savior asks us to sacrifice ourselves to Him and for Him, but many find it hard to do. Yet those who sacrifice what they treasure most will find that their loss is gain and that life therefore is forever glorified.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good" (Ps. 54:6).
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