LIFE SCRIPTS

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: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and 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!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Mark 10:17‭-‬31 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.10.17-31.NIV.

The story of the rich young ruler highlights to us several truths:
1. It disproves those claiming that Christ didn’t exist. Isn’t it amazing how different authors of the gospel spoke of the same event yet in different ways? Matthew wrote his own account the rich young ruler. Now here, Mark does the same. History tells us that these two gospels were written in different occasions so it’s highly unlikely they consulted. The same is the case for Luke. The gospel accounts from different sources proves one thing…that it’s true.
2. The story of the rich young ruler speaks to us in our day. With today being the most materialistic era in the history of man, more and more people seek after wealth and status. Though it isn’t wrong, what place does that wealth occupy when we gain it? When we make it into the ‘successful’ league, do we relegate God at the expense of wealth? Christ’s encounter with this man precipitates an age old human problem…not being able to serve two masters at the same time…what Christ highlighted in other verses. Money is a good tool, a loyal servant but a wayward master. The wealth we acquire today does good things for us but does it make us forget God? Do we still tithe faithfully? Do we still serve others generously? Do we give cheerfully?
3. But lastly, Christ states the cost of following Him. It will cost us relationships, family and many other things. As we choose Christ, we reject other things. In no way is Christ urging us to abandon family (that’s heretic). He still stuck close to some of His siblings such as Jude and James. Instead, He’s reminding us that in our walk, if we’re pulled along a different direction by our families, we must choose to obey God. It costs to obey God. And there are many who’ve done so. I think of the people who refuse to walk the path of tribal hatred contrary to prominent voices in their communities in Kenya… I think of the young persons who start businesses or look for jobs without a desire to bribe even though pressurized by family… I think of the young Muslim who converts to Christianity facing rejection from family but still holding on…there’s a cost to follow Christ. Are we willing to pay it?